Bus drivers’ quick thinking keeps students safe

A group of young students from Willow Springs were kept safe during the tornado events earlier this month thanks to the quick thinking of their bus driver. Willow Springs Head Start Driver Susan Thompson was nearing the end of her route on Wednesday, April 2, when the National Weather Service in Springfield issued a tornado warning for Howell County. The bus monitor and Head Start teacher, Chris Collins, recognized the seriousness of the situation. Thankfully, the school had prepared for this. 

 

“Our team had worked to identify safe pick-up and drop-off locations in each community,” said Ozark Action, Inc. Head Start director Angie Kinder. “The bus had just pulled into one of those designated spots when the warning came through.” NWS issued the warning at 2:23 pm on April 2.

 

One of these spots was the Woods family home outside Willow Springs. This is the bus stop for multiple children from different families. Collins asked the Woods if the group could seek shelter in their basement, and the family welcomed everyone inside. This included Collins and Thompson, four students, and two parents, one with an infant. While sheltering, the driver contacted the center manager, Cathey Thompson, providing their location while Collins called the two remaining parents to inform them that their children were safe and where they were sheltering. They remained in the shelter until the warning was canceled. 

“Once it was safe, our staff completed the route, bringing the remaining two children home,” Kinder told the News. “This situation could have been frightening, but instead it became a story of how preparation and community relationships made all the difference. I want to extend heartfelt thanks to the Woods family for opening their home and showing such compassion during a tense moment. I also want to recognize the calm, professional actions of our staff, who kept children safe, and families informed during the event.”

 

On April 3, a NWS survey team found EF-1 tornado damage southwest of West Plains from Highway JJ to County Road 8800, near Arrowhead Lake Estates. The survey results state that the tornado was on the ground from 3:16 to 3:21 pm, traveled 1.13 miles, and had peak winds estimated between 95 and 100 miles-per-hour.