With storm season, our so-called fifth season, upon us, it's a good idea for those with storm shelters to make sure they're registered with the Fire Department. According to Altus Emergency Management Director Lloyd Colston, there are over 600 registered shelters in the city. "While emergency management will NEVER release the locations of private shelters to the public," Colston said, "the homeowner is encouraged to check with their neighbors to help them know where there is a safe place to go during storms.

According to the Oklahoma Disaster Center (www.disastercenter.com), our state ranks fourth in tornado risk, behind Ind., Mass., and MIss. We're in Zone IV, with winds clocked at up to 250 miles per hour, according to the Tornado Project (www.tornadoproject.com). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Storm Prediction Center statistics show our area of Oklahoma has 11-15 tornadoes per 1000 square miles. Frequently, when there's a bull's eye on the U.S. convection map, we're somewhere in it.

The Disaster Center recommends that before a tornado you do the following:

"Develop a plan for you and your family members at home, work, home, school, and when outdoors. Practice your plan. Know the county in which you live, and keep a highway map nearby to follow the storm reports. Listen to NOAA Weather Radio broadcasts. Your local media may provide weather updates and warnings."

When a tornado warning is issued, the Disaster Center says the following will save lives:

"Move to a designated shelter, such as a basement. if no shelter is available, move to a lower floor interior hallway or room. If in an automobile, leave the car immediately, find a low spot, and lie flat on the ground. Mobile homes provide little protection from tornadoes and should be moved away from during the tornado watch phase. Tornadoes can develop so rapidly that no warning is possible. Remain alert for the signs of approaching tornadoes. Most deaths and injuries from tornados are due to flying debris."

Since the severe tornadoes of the late 1990's, more people have put storm shelters in their Oklahoma homes. If you're not totally sold on having a shelter in the yard, you might consider this tip from the Disaster Center.

"One of the most interesting recent developments is the concept of strengthening an interior room to serve as a storm shelter in your home. After studying houses damaged by high winds and tornadoes it has been found that often a small interior room, such as a closet or bathroom, remains intact after the house is destroyed. Part of the reason for this relates to how winds act on the structure. High winds like those generated by a tornado often lift the house off of the floor of the house, leaving behind the floor and the interior rooms. So the idea is to strengthen an interior room to serve as a shelter during a tornado or other high wind event."