Storm season is upon us once again.

In the past couple days, wind and hail damage has been reported all around us in the Ozarks, and close to home for some Barry County residents.

Five hours before I wrote this, heavy winds took a trees and power lines down east of Sarcoxie in Lawrence County. Hail from half an inch in diameter to two-and-a-half inches in diameter was also reported in multiple counties throughout the Ozarks. A 67-mile-per-hour wind gust took out several trees in Republic.

Even closer to home, in the Barry County portion of Monett, 60- to 70-mile-per-hour wind gusts sent three trees into homes. Storm sirens were also sounding in Monett on Sunday night, a result of the storms that threatened Joplin, Webb City and Carthage.

Some of us may still be leery after two years ago. The May 26, 2024 windstorm was the worst severe weather to hit Cassville in decades aside from flooding events in 2015 and 2016. So far this year, the latter seems less of a threat, in part thanks to creek clean-out efforts in channels across the city in recent years.

As we weather this weather, the times of crisis are fleeting compared to the times of calm. Yet, it is in those fleeting moments the most important questions are posed — specifically, where are the area storm shelters?

I’ve seen this question so many times on social media while sirens are sounding, so let’s make 2026 the year of preparation. The first step to being prepared is simple: be informed.

Cassville has two storm shelters, both on the Cassville school district campus. The FEMA Event Center across from Wildcat Stadium and the FEMA building at Cassville High School both unlock automatically only when the National Weather Service (NWS) issues a tornado warning. 

The locks are not tied to storm sirens, which may be activated by Barry County Emergency Management for high winds or heavy thunderstorms, as well as tornado warnings.

The building is also not open to the public during school hours, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Purdy school district has a FEMA shelter at the school district that doubles as a performing arts center, located at the corner of Highway C and Gabby Gibbons Drive. The Wheaton school district, located at 116 McCall St. in Wheaton, also has a FEMA structure on its campus. 

Both facilities, like Cassville’s, open automatically with the issuance of a NWS tornado warning, and residents are allowed in and Wheaton’s FEMA shelter during school hours. I was unable to verify by presstime if Purdy’s is or not.

In Washburn, First Baptist Church has a storm shelter accessible to residents. The Southwest school district pursued a FEMA storm shelter a few years ago, but rising costs to build the structure halted the project. In the event of a disaster, the district will open its gym for residents in need of shelter or American Red Cross assistance.

Exeter does not have any available shelters. The school district has applied for FEMA grants but has yet to find success. Superintendent Tim Jordan said the district is still pursuing a facility and is on a waiting list.

Monett has four total shelters: Monett Elementary School, at 601 Learning Lane; the old Monett Middle School at 9th and Cleveland streets; and at Monett High School (performing arts center), at 1650 E. Cleveland Ave. There is also a city-owned shelter at 603 County Road (Marshall Hill).

All Monett’s shelters open when the NWS issues a tornado warning. With the storms Tuesday, I was unable to determine if residents may use school shelters during school hours.

If you need shelter from a storm, these are the best places to go. I would also be remiss if I did not add that entities who run those shelters ask that you follow the rules. One of the main ones is the most difficult — please leave your pets at home.

Emotions are already high while sirens are sounding, fed by fear and uncertainty, and no one in that state wants to deal with dogs barking and fighting inside the secure facility. I speak from experience on this one, as we went to the FEMA Event Center a couple of years ago and two dogs started going after one another less than 10 feet away from my two daughters, one of whom was an infant at the time.

Everyone loves their pets — we have two dogs, a cat and two snakes — but please consider others when seeking public shelter. As much as we don’t want any animal-related issues, it’s also difficult for my daughters to understand why others can bring their pets, but we don’t bring ours. “They are breaking the rules,” is about all I can say, and the girls don’t find much comfort in that.

Throughout this next month and during any storm season, keep an eye on the forecasts and plan ahead as best you can. Never drive into flood waters, and if a FEMA shelter is not an option, find the most interior location of your residence, away from windows, and hunker down.

With some education and preparation, we can handle any aftermath together.

Kyle Troutman has served as editor of the Cassville Democrat since 2014 and owner/publisher since 2023. He is a three-time ISWNE Golden Dozen award winner. He may be reached at 417-847-2610 or [email protected].