The principal of Southwestern Middle School says had students been in the building when last week’s tornadoes hit, all likely would have been safe.
Karen Smith says despite the destruction to the gymnasium and other areas of the building, the places where students and staff shelter during severe weather remain intact.
She credits the Tippecanoe Emergency Management Agency for helping develop a strong safety plan.
Smith says TEMA director Smokey Anderson toured the building in April and identified the best locations to secure people during a weather emergency.
She says cameras in the school’s gym and hallways captured the damage to the building as it happened.
Smith says the footage shows how important it is to take potential severe weather seriously and move quickly to get students and staff to their safe spots.
