DUANE SHERRILLEditor

With severe weather becoming a weekly thing in the Mid-South with the changing of the seasons, those seeking shelter from the storms do have local options in the Tullahoma.

According to the city of Tullahoma, there is an agreement with the Red Cross and different city entities and locations for emergency shelters.

“The procedure for city-owned facilities designated as shelters (D.W. Wilson and C.D. Stamps Community Centers) would start with a request from Coffee County Emergency Management to open shelters in case of an event,” said Tullahoma Public Information Officer Lyle Russell. “The request goes to City Admin, Police, and Fire who decide together to open the shelters.”

Once a decision is made to open a shelter, usually when a forecast of severe weather is made and impacts are pending, the location and times for the shelter are made public.

“We push out notifications to as many outlets as possible that shelters will be opened,” he said. “In short, we take our cues from Coffee County EMA for shelter activation.”

There are also other agreements in place should more room be needed in case of a public emergency.

“The other Tullahoma agencies that have agreements with Red Cross for shelters is Tullahoma City Schools (THS, East Lincoln, and West Middle), Trinity Lutheran Church on Wilson Ave., and First Christian Church on W. Grundy Street,” he said. “Those facilities have their own separate agreements, but they are also activated at the request of CCEMA.”