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Former councilor urges city to add storm shelters after identifying school gaps
Summary
Buddy Palmer, a former councilor, told the council that several wards and Longhorn School (about 550 students) lack adequate monolithic storm shelters and urged the city and school system to include shelters in capital planning and funding discussions.
Buddy Palmer, a former Tupelo councilor, told the council during the citizen comment period that most wards have monolithic storm shelters but Ward Five and Longhorn School lack adequate protection. "Longhorn School which is right down the street from the park that has 550 students. They have no storm shelter at all," Palmer said, and he provided the council a sheet showing existing monolithic shelters around the city.
Palmer said earlier FEMA and state programs helped fund other shelters and described examples where shelters were too small or poorly sited. He criticized what he described as inconsistent coverage across wards and urged the council to include shelters in capital planning and to coordinate with the school system on funding or placement. "We need to have protection for our kids," he said.
Council members thanked Palmer for the information. The transcript records Palmer's request and the materials he provided; it does not include an immediate council directive or funding commitment. The council proceeded to regular agenda business after the comment.
The item remains a public comment request for future capital planning consideration.
