Small town installs bulletproof shelters in classrooms

A tiny Oklahoma town aims to keep its students safe in the event of a school shooting – by installing bulletproof shelters in classrooms.

Dozens of copycat threats have been investigated across the state in the wake of the Valentine’s Day Florida massacre, including in Healdton, a city of fewer than 3,000 residents, KOCO 5 reported.

“You think those things are never, ever gonna happen in your school, but, unfortunately, they do,” said Melissa Hudson, a mom and head of the parent-teacher organization. “Some are caused by weather and some are caused by man.”

District officials decided to install seven of the shelters inside the elementary school and two in the middle school. Shelters also are planned for the high school.

“When tornadoes strike, and Lord help us, when you have an intruder on campus, to know that you have somewhere to go quickly for the safety of your students,” Superintendent Terry Shaw said. “It’s very relaxing.”

The schools chief said that in case of an emergency, the kids would rush into the shelters and teachers would slam the doors shut for a lockdown.

Shaw said he volunteered to hunker down in one of the shelters — which hold up to 35 students and two teachers — while someone shot at it.

“I did not feel comfortable putting these in my buildings if I wasn’t willing to do it myself. So I offered to go inside,” he said. “It was very surreal, but I felt very comfortable. Very safe.”

City residents said it’s a sad reality that such shelters are needed.

“There will be security in knowing no matter what happens, it will be safe for me to pick them up on that evening,” Hudson said.

Shelter-in-Place, the company behind the ballistic barriers, said Healdton is the first community to receive the units in the US. The company said it is in talks with other districts.