Shelter Permits Sought in Norman After Tornadoes

Norman, Okla., residents are applying to build storm shelters in the wake of deadly tornadoes that struck in Moore and other nearby areas.

The May 19 and 20 tornadoes killed dozens in Moore and other Oklahoma City metro areas just north of Norman.

Norman planning and community development director Susan Connors told The Norman Transcript that the city approved an average of 27 home addition permits per week in the six weeks before the tornadoes – although the number of permits for storm shelters wasn’t counted.

The city reports that from June 5 to July 10 there were 243 storm shelter permits approved – an average about 48 permits per week for storm shelters alone during the five week period – out of a total of 300 permits approved.