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.
Family uses retired school bus as tornado shelter
Ohatchee, Ala., resident Jerry Moore says he and his family keep water and other supplies in the bus in the event that they have to stay in it for long periods of time. The bus is stored in the side of a hill.
More Safety

New York Girl Killed by School Bus Hit & Run
An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.
Read More →
Disaster Readiness Starts Before the Storm [Call for Experts]
The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.
Read More →
How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps
Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.
Read More →
New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →
