Woman Who Lost Son In Moore Tornado Talks About Efforts To Bring Tornado Shelter Awareness

It has been three years since Danni Legg's 9-year-old son, Christopher, was killed in the May 20, 2013 tornado. But for Legg, it doesn't seem like time has passed much at all. 

"It feels like this happened yesterday," Legg said. 

The images of that day are seared into so many of our minds. Today, Plaza Towers Elementary has safe rooms but is without seven little lives that were lost because these shelters weren't here three years ago.

"These children came to school the morning, very innocent," Legg said. 

Like all children. However, some are more protected than others.

Almost immediately Legg, along with former state representative Joe Dorman and attorney David Slane, spearheaded the Take Shelter Oklahoma initiative in an attempt to make tornado shelters mandatory in all public schools in Oklahoma, but there weren't enough signatures to get the effort on the ballot.

"It's like an insurance policy," said Dorman. "You hope you never have to use it, but you're sure glad you have it in case the worst happens." 

Right now homeowners must register their storm shelters with the county clerk's office, but there's really no record of how many schools actually have them. 

"We've had to go through and look at each school district as they pass a bond issue to see if that includes a storm shelter, and there have been many. We've seen that success with Edmond, with Moore in recent years and quite a few of these rural school districts have started including them," Dorman said.

But that's just a start.

"Just because of where you live your child doesn't deserve to come home if a tornado hits the school, because you don't have enough bonding capacity to put a shelter in?" Legg said. 

Slane drafted the initial petition of the effort. 

"Local school districts have got to take the warning that they have to eventually get these shelters put into the schools," said Slane. "I know it's difficult. I know it's tough. I know they're laying off teachers, but remember this if he doesn't leave that school house alive, it's not worth anything." 

For more information about assistance with school storm shelter contact Slane's office at (405)-319-1800.