Family uses retired school bus as tornado shelter

OHATCHEE, Ala. — A retired school bus has found a second life with Jerry Moore and his family. The Ohatchee resident uses it as a shelter when tornadoes pass through his neighborhood. 

Moore spoke to National Public Radio (NPR) about the bus and staying in it during a storm on April 27.

Moore said that 14 family members and a Great Dane headed to the bus for safety, and that after the storm passed, the group saw that Moore’s house survived, but both of his daughters’ trailers were destroyed. 

Moore got the bus from a preacher, and it is stored in the side of a hill. Moore told NPR he got a backhoe to dig the hole and put the bus in, and then he and his family covered it back up.

He also noted that they keep water and other supplies in the bus in the event that they have to stay in it for long periods of time.