Quapaw Public School Safe Room Guidelines

Approved: August 14, 2025

While the primary function of the district storm shelter is to protect students and staff members during the school day, the intent has always been to make them available to the public whenever possible.  Quapaw residents and district employees serve as safe room hosts in the event of a tornado or other severe weather event outside of the regular school day.  While we can’t make guarantees, every effort is made to ensure the safe room will be open and available regardless the time of day.

Safe Room Guidelines

Quapaw Public Schools shall utilize the following rules and procedures for use of the Tornado Safe Rooms at the elementary school: 

During school hours, only students and staff can use the Safe Room facility.
Safe Room doors will be unlocked when the tornado siren sounds. 
Safe Rooms are open only to the public when a tornado warning (not watch) has been issued and/or the tornado sirens have been sounded. 
Safe Rooms will remain open only until the tornado warning is lifted. When the warning expires, the Safe Rooms must be vacated within thirty (30) minutes.
It is mandatory to always follow the directions of the Safe Room managers or school administrators.  Any conflicts you will be removed from the shelter. 
Pets are not allowed in the Safe Rooms unless they are a service animal with proper paperwork. 
Food and drink are not permitted in the shelter. 
Smoking or use of tobacco or products containing tobacco in any form is prohibited. Specifically, the prohibition also included any product that manufactured, distributed, marked, or sold as e-cigarettes, e-pipe, vapor devices or under any other name or descriptor. 
Radios or other music devices may be used only with individual earphones. 
No alcoholic beverages are allowed in the Safe Room or on school property.
No Weapons of any type is permitted in the Safe Room: guns, knives, swords, etc. EXCEPTION: Official weapons carried by on duty/off duty law enforcement.