Is Oklahoma’s Severe Weather Policy Grounded in Fact or Folklore?

• Logan Layden
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  Logan Layden is a reporter and managing editor for StateImpact Oklahoma. He is a native of McAlester, Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Oklahoma in 2009. Logan spent three years as a state capitol reporter and local host of All Things Considered for NPR member station KGOU in Norman and six years as a reporter with StateImpact from 2011 to 2017. Most recently, he was news director for McAlester Radio before returning to public radio in 2020.

Gene Blevins / Reuters/Landov

Cloud to ground lightning strikes near storm chasers during a tornado thunderstorm in Cushing, Okla., on May 31.

Since the deadly tornadoes that struck the state this spring, StateImpact has been taking a look at Oklahoma’s severe weather policy, and asking questions:

Why aren’t there more safe rooms in schools?

What financial help is available for those needing a shelter at home?

And should buildings codes be changed to provide more tornado resistance?