Not everyone has a secure place in their homes to take shelter during severe weather. If you do not have access to a basement or other secure interior location, consider these public options:
Wellman
During severe weather, the front doors to City Hall, 316 8th Ave SW, are open and shelter can be taken in the basement.
Parkside YMCA, 525 13th St, is also a shelter location. If you cannot return to your home after a storm, this is the place to come until you make other housing arrangements.
Kalona
The Kalona YMCA Rec Center, 511 C Ave, serves as a storm shelter in Kalona.
Riverside
In Riverside, the Riverside Casino serves as a shelter for residents during severe weather. For those who have been displaced due to storm damage, the Riverside Fire Station provides a place to regroup.
Lone Tree
Farmers & Merchants Savings Bank, 200 N. Devoe St, serves as a sheltering area for the Lone Tree area.
Coralville
The Coralville Recreation Center, 1506 8th Street, is currently functioning as a Red Cross shelter for those who have been displaced.
Sign up for Alert Iowa to receive emergency alerts in Washington County
Washington County public safety agencies would like to encourage the public to sign up to receive emergency alerts about severe weather and other emergencies.
Alert Iowa is a statewide emergency notification system the county uses to send alerts to residents. This system enables Washington County officials to communicate emergency information directly to citizens via voice call, text message, email and social media. The system also has the capability to translate messages into multiple languages.
To sign up, create an account on the Washington County web portal at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=WashingtonCountyIowa (also found on the Washington County Emergency Management website. Or text WashingtonIA to 67283. Or download the Smart911 app from Apple or Google Play stores.
Alert Iowa messages are one of many ways you can and should receive warnings. Redundancy ensures your safety in the event of a failure of any other system. On Friday, March 31, 2023, the Wellman outdoor warning siren failed to function during the severe storms and tornado warning. Multiple means to receive messages is the best practice to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.