Methodology & Data Sources

Primary Data Sources

Public tornado shelter locations displayed on this map are sourced from publicly available government and municipal datasets, including but not limited to:

• State and local emergency management agencies
  
• County and municipal GIS departments
  
• Public ArcGIS and Open Data portals
  
• Official government-published shelter datasets
  
  

These sources are selected because they represent authoritative, publicly maintained records intended for community use.
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How Shelter Data Is Collected

Shelter location data is retrieved from authoritative GIS datasets and standardized for display within this system. Because shelter data is maintained by different agencies, data fields and available details may vary by jurisdiction.

Typical data attributes may include:

• Shelter name or facility type
  
• General location or address
  
• County or municipality
  
• Public accessibility designation
  
  

Not all shelters include the same level of detail.

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Accuracy, Availability, and Limitations

Public shelter information is dependent on the accuracy and update frequency of the original data provider. Some shelter locations may be added, removed, or modified by local authorities without prior notice.

Important limitations include:

• Shelter availability may change during emergencies
  
• Access restrictions may apply during certain events
  
• Capacity information is not always available
  
• Shelter status is not monitored in real time
  
  

Users should always confirm shelter availability with local emergency management officials when possible.

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Scope of This Tool

This tool does:

• Display known public tornado shelter locations from official datasets
  
• Provide general location awareness for preparedness planning
  
• Present shelter data in a centralized, visual format

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This tool does not:

• Predict storms or issue alerts
  
• Determine shelter safety or capacity
  
• Guarantee shelter access during an event
  
• Replace official emergency instructions

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How to Use This Information Responsibly

Public shelter location awareness is one part of a broader preparedness strategy. Long-term safety planning should also consider personal shelter options, building construction standards, and guidance from the National Weather Service and local emergency management agencies.

For active weather conditions, users should refer to official alerts and real-time tools such as Storm Mode.

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Disclaimer

This tool is provided for informational purposes only. Steadfast Storm Shelters does not operate, manage, or certify public shelters listed on this map. Always follow instructions from local emergency management authorities and the National Weather Service during severe weather events.