ST. PETERS, Mo. – Severe weather season is right around the corner and one St. Peters woman is preparing by building a storm shelter that can withstand winds up to 250 miles per hour.
A few years ago, Jamie Ovlia was looking for childcare and she found Primrose School of O'Fallon at Winghaven.
"We fell in love with the way that they approach learning," Ovlia said. "One thing led to another and we decided to bring it closer to our home here in the St. Charles, St. Peters area."
On the corner of South St. Peters Parkway and Heritage Crossing, Ovlia is opening Primrose School of St. Charles at Heritage for 182 kids, including her own daughter and twin boys.
A storm shelter is part of the design.
"As the owner of this school, you ultimately feel responsible for all of these children - you are responsible for all of them," Ovlia said. "This kind of corridor down HWY 364 in this area has been affected. Homes have been destroyed. There was the Club Fitness a couple years ago. The front of the building fell off in a tornado. So, it's very possible. It's something that can happen. So, we just want to know that we are prepared for it."
Ovlia said this will be the first private preschool in the area to offer a storm shelter. It's large enough to fit all the kids and everyone who will work there.
The walls are made up of eight-inch-thick cinder blocks.
"These were filled with concrete and rebar and the rebar then connected to the roof," Ovlia said. "What you can really see is the footings that go much deeper into the ground."
In other words, the structure is sturdy. Ovlia said it will also be stocked with supplies.
"We'll have extra water," she said. "We'll have flashlights."
When the school is not using this space for potential emergencies, it will be two pre-kindergarten classrooms.
Ovlia has hired a director and assistant director. She is beginning to interview teachers. Construction should be complete by early summer.
