BELL COUNTY, TX — Where in Bell County can you go to seek shelter from a storm?
25 News asked Central Texans about their weather emergency plans.
"Just get in the shower with my kids. If we can, we can take like one of the mattress and put it next to us," said Ramon Igartua of Killeen.
"Try to round up all the pets, make sure everything is secure so it's not blowing around," shared Jason Conner from Dallas.
But what if you are not at home? For Temple residents, the City's designated storm shelter is at Holy Trinity Catholic High School.
"It is a reinforced concrete building built to with stand 250 mph winds," explained Principal Isabelle Brogan.
Principal Brogan said the building was partly funded by a $1 million FEMA grant.
On a daily basis, it's used as the school's cafeteria. During inclement weather, it is used as a public shelter.
"So if during school hours, the tornado warning is sounded and the sirens go off, we open up the building to the community to anybody who wants to seek shelter in here," said Brogan.
With one exception, the City does not allow pets in the shelter. But what happens if severe weather hits outside of school hours?
"It is not advised by the fire department, or by anybody, for any of our staff to drive from their home to come up here and open it," said Brogan. "The fire department, however, if they deem it necessary, has special access to this building and then they can come up here and open it."
Yet another place you can find shelter is at the TxDOT Safe Rest Areas in Bell and Hill counties. Each of the stops have storm shelters, something Central Texans say they are grateful for.
"So this is a good place to stop, especially with this weather today where we don't know what's going to happen," said Igartua.
As always, it is important to monitor local weather reports to know what to expect.
