With storm season just around the corner, please make sure your storm shelter is registered with the City of Seminole. When you register your shelter, it creates a map of the shelters in the city.

There have been times that people are trapped in a shelter after a big storm because something heavy fell on top of the door. After big storms, emergency workers will use the storm shelter registry to call and check to make sure the family of the registered storm shelters is safe.

To register your storm shelter, visit the city’s web page at www.seminole-oklahoma.net and click on “shelter registry” located near the bottom of the main page. If you have already registered, you do not need to do so again.

Even though the city has outdoor warning systems, Emergency Management Director Ernie Willis recommends that all households have a weather radio. The storm sirens are designed to be heard outdoors only and may not be heard indoors.

Experts say a weather alert radio is just as crucial as a smoke detector and can mean the difference between being caught by surprise or gaining precious minutes to prepare for your family’s safety.

Since weather alert radios receive information at the same time as most TV stations and other media outlets, you will often know before it can even be announced on the air. Those extra minutes you have to prepare for an emergency can mean the difference between life and death. Just like a smoke detector, a weather alert radio is loud enough to be heard whenever your family’s safety is in danger, and can wake you even if you are asleep.