OKLAHOMA REMEMBERS: Fallin Says School Storm Shelters Top Priority

It's been one year since an EF-5 tornado hit Moore. Twenty-five people lost their lives, and on the year anniversary, the community, state and nation are remembering.

A ceremony marking the one year anniversary took place Tuesday morning with a bell ringing by the fire department.

Before Governor Mary Fallin spoke at the Moore Community Remembrance Ceremony, News On 6 asked her about the state government's role in getting storm shelters in Oklahoma schools.

The new Plaza Towers Elementary School will open in August. It does have a storm shelter.

One year ago, 70 students and teachers huddled at this site with a school that had no storm shelter.

It's a big debate in Oklahoma and I spoke to Governor Fallin about her plan to once and for all get storm shelters in all public schools.

The parents of the loved ones of those seven beautiful children who lost their lives a year ago have come together and said we will not stop speaking out 'till there's a storm shelter in every school. Where do we stand on that one year after this tragedy?

"That's certainly been one of my top goals this legislative session - is to get a joint resolution through the House and Senate that will allow local school districts to be able to vote on what type of storm shelters or safe places that they would like to have in their schools," said Governor Mary Fallin.

"We have about 1,100 schools that still don't have storm shelters - about 700 do in our state. We're seeing already bond issues being let like this one to be able to put storm shelters in schools themselves.

"I hope that people will contact their legislators and say now and between the end of session - which will be this month - to vote for resolution to allow the people of Oklahoma to put in storm shelters in our schools," she said.

Now, in terms of private home ownership, the rules have changed. You build a home in the city of Moore now, it must be able to withstand an EF-3 tornado and winds of 135 miles per hour.