The Plex Responds to Accusations of Kids Locked Out During Tornado Warning
When a tornado warning was issued for the Wichita Falls area Saturday night (5/16), many parents and citizens took to social media to voice their concerns about the actions taken by The Plex, a local family entertainment center and skating rink.
Accusations that, while sirens were sounding, employees of The Plex kicked 40-50 children out of the building and locked the doors flooded Facebook. However, The Plex manager Steve Misner says that is just not true.
Misner says that when the sirens went off, they made the decision to clear the metal building as it would likely "tear people to shreds" if hit by a tornado. Metal buildings like The Plex are just not safe to be in during a tornado.
"All of my employees and I, along with several police officers, stayed with the children until each and every one of them had a ride home," said Misner.
Misner also mentioned that some employees even took it upon themselves to take some children home in their personal vehicles.
UPDATE: Here is the statement posted to The Plex's Facebook Page:
THIS MESSAGE IS FOR ALL INDIVIDUALS POSTING ON THE PLEX AND ROLLER PLEX PAGE CONCERNING THE WEATHER SITUATION.First of...
Posted by The Plex Family Entertainment and Roller Plex Skate Center on Saturday, May 16, 2015
The sirens were sounded before any severe weather actually hit the area of The Plex, and Misner says that had severe weather actually struck the area, all of the children would have been taken back inside if absolutely necessary.
The photograph below (via FEMA) of a steel frame corridor in the Kelly Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma shows exactly what can happen to a metal building in a tornado.