FEMA storm shelter at Ozark Community Center gains remote access capability, allowing for faster response to door openings in severe weather

OZARK, Mo. (KY3) – The Ozark Community Center (known as “The OC”) is not only a place for family fun and activities in this Christian County town, but also home to one of two public FEMA shelters in the Ozarks that can accommodate more than 800 people.

In the Ozark Mountains, where the old saying goes, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a few minutes and it’ll change,” opening a shelter on a whim can be a challenge for any school or community.

In fact, in many cases, people show up before the shelter even opens, waiting for someone to physically show up with the keys to open it.

“In our case, we previously had a chain of command where city employees had to come out in inclement weather to unclog this facility,” explained Hayden Ponsar, Ozark Parks and Recreation Director.

Now, however, OC has solved this problem by introducing a new remote access system that allows designated city employees to instantly unlock the shelter using an app on their phone.

“Regardless of the situation, even if we’re in another country, we can remotely unlock that facility and make sure it’s safe and ready for the public to use,” Ponsar said, because the app also includes views from cameras mounted at the shelter. “We have a few staff members with the app, so even if I’m on the beach somewhere, they can press a button from their home and unlock the shelter.”

The system works on the same principle as smart home systems, allowing homeowners to remotely control appliances, thermostats, lights and other devices via an internet connection and smartphone.

“The system is dual-cell,” Ponsar noted. “So if the Wi-Fi goes down, the system will still work. And our FEMA shelter is connected to the power grid. If the power goes down, we have a generator. And there’s a lithium battery attached to the unit, which is our third line of defense against a power outage.”

The new remote system will eliminate situations like April 28, when the shelter remained closed under a severe weather warning because police were responding to a crash on Highway 65 that left someone injured and were unable to open it.

“The city workers at that point (responsible for opening the shelter) were the first responders,” Ponsar said. “And they were busy with the incident.”

Because the new app will allow the shelter to open sooner in severe weather, it could mean the difference between life and death, so Ozark residents appreciate its importance.

“It’s a great idea,” said Ozark resident Laura Roberts. “It’s nice to see Ozark keeping up with technology, making life so much easier and safer.”

The new remote access system has been priced at between $10,000 and $12,000, but Ponsar says it is certainly worth the money.

“I definitely think it could save lives,” he noted. “It will also provide peace of mind for people who rely on this place to stay safe during severe weather. People are looking for this shelter, and coming here and finding the doors locked is terrifying. So knowing that the doors of the OC FEMA shelter will always be open is key.”

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