Mitigation case studies: Clara Barton hospital shelter, Hoisington, Kansas May 2004

On April 21, 2001, an F4 tornado struck Hoisington, Kansas (population 2,975), severely damaging 230 homes and businesses and leaving one person dead. The Clara Barton Hospital sustained extensive damage, estimated at nearly 1.5 million dollars. The destruction and potential loss of life from that event was an alarming wake-up call for the region.
Following the tornado, Lloyd Arnold, of the Kansas Division of Emergency Management (KDEM), and Hospital Administrator Jim Turnbull discussed ways to ensure the safety of the patients and staff in the event of another tornado. They decided to build a shelter at the hospital — the first hospital shelter in the state to meet the design, performance, and construction criteria presented in 'Design and Construction Guidance for Community Shelters,' FEMA publication 361.