Storm Shelter Registration Saves Lives
Divulging additional personal information than what’s legally required for ‘Big Brother’ sounds disingenuous, but working against the grain of public safety can be a deadly mistake. In an era of the pervasive oversharing of personal details with online strangers, we are oddly opposed to giving up more trivial information by comparison to those who are tasked with societal guardianship. While identity theft is on the rise nationwide – because yes, specific details like your social security number should be closely guarded – withholding our vital statistics, like blood type or your 911 address, doesn’t serve your best interests or make you a praiseworthy renegade for thumbing your nose at the “man” when your life is on the line. Storm shelter registration is one of those disclosures that benefits the greater good and the ultimate nonrenewable resource – your life.
The Government Isn’t Out to Get You
Prospective safe room shelter owners come with a genuine and understandable distrust of authority. By prudently researching a safe room or tornado shelter, home safety enthusiasts have tacitly agreed that our government bodies are not ultimately the custodians of life. While publicly funded civil institutions like fire and police protection help curb society’s and Mother Nature’s worst effects, municipalities are limited with proactive measures in ensuring public safety. More often than not, 911 is a last resort for mitigating an emergency or cleaning up a disaster that’s already wreaked havoc on our lives. The absence of community-wide safe rooms for vulnerable populations nationwide is a testament to the government’s limited scope in protecting vulnerable residents in storm-prone areas. That’s why you’re here. You care about your family’s safety because only you can protect loved ones when the stuff hits the fan – not the government. But what’s the harm in at least letting authorities know where they can find you when Mother Nature comes roaring through town? Think of it as letting your mom and dad know you made it home safely after family dinner, even though you’re a grown adult who is perfectly capable of taking care of yourself.
Information Emboldens Deterrence and Storm Protection
“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.'” President Ronald Reagan’s notorious statement on invasive government instead of self-autonomous resiliency has underscored America’s hatred of state-sponsored intervention. He had a point: burdensome government bureaucracy can hamstring productivity on both the corporate and individual levels. But how much trust can you invest in a man who gave the super-rich tax breaks while championing the lies of “trickle-down economics” that have been disproven through every measure of domestic GDP growth? While meddlesome regulations and government oversight can be taxing, their intentions are for the common good more often than not. While every American has the civic duty to act incredulously and question those most deserving of accountability, outright distrust of the government is foolhardy and unfeasible. The roads you drive on, the Internet you surf, and even the snail mail at the curbside mailbox are all federally regulated, and for good reason. Certain rules and laws protect consumers and the nation’s most vulnerable.
Tennessee Town Launches Safe Room Registration Program
Recently, the Williamson County Emergency Management Agency in Tennessee implemented a county-wide storm shelter registry program. The agency said the voluntary program is for residential safe room owners who choose to provide their residence’s safe room location to authorities. Providing your safe room’s location could assist rescue and recovery efforts if residents find themselves trapped underneath debris the shelters. Safe room registration doesn’t preclude infringing upon family secrets or other person details protected under protection of federal law. The program’s database will only be accessed during extreme weather events. Giving up such miniscule information today could save your family’s lives tomorrow should they become trapped in a safe room. To be clear, the program is strictly voluntary and doesn’t grant authorities the ability to inspect your storm shelter although most town ordinances require building permits for safe room construction.
The master registry will allow us to identify structures with storm shelters in a storm’s path,” Purdy said. “While all damaged structures are searched, this storm shelter list will assist emergency responders as they conduct search and rescue operations, expediting the accountability process. – EMA Director Mac Purdy.
Staying Prepared in Combating Growing Threats
Regardless of your predilections for government oversight into your residence’s inner workings, the safe room registration program underscores the importance of home security. With chaotic weather patterns and home burglaries increasing nationwide, every homeowner owes their loved ones due diligence in researching emergency preparedness plans for every possible scenario. Our panelized safe rooms or above-ground shelters can provide continuous steel-grade protection from tornadoes, hurricanes, and opportunistic crooks. Each safe room kit or shelter can be discretely delivered and installed in your home away from the prying eyes of nosey neighbors. Whether you tell the government where it’s at is entirely your call.