Warning: No storm shelters at state parks

Words of advice to state park users if severe storms threaten:

Pay attention to the weather and be ready to bug out if you feel you're in danger. There is no place at most state parks to take shelter.

"We rely heavily on getting people warned if bad weather's coming so they can decide what to do," said Seth Turner, El Dorado State Park manager. "I don't know how we'd begin to put up enough storm shelters for 60-70,000 people."

Their first step is to advise hosts at each campground that severe weather is in the forecast. They can pass the news along to campers.

If things look particularly threatening, rangers ride through the park, lights and sirens going, often using an audio system to provide details.

Jody Schwartz said Cheney State Park has the same plan.

"We try to warn as early as possible and as much as possible without crying wolf too many times," he said. "You can head to our bathrooms, but I'm not sure I'd trust a bathroom with a direct hit.

"It's always been a mess, and it always will be a mess," he said of handling incoming storms.

A tornado went through part of Cheney State Park on July 3, 2005. Several camping units were damaged or destroyed, but nobody was seriously injured in the park.

Schwartz said a boater on the water was killed and the lake's marina was heavily damaged.

Campers at the Toronto Point Campground at Cross Timbers State Park have another option.

"The Methodist church in Toronto is really good about opening their basement," said Kim Jones, state park manager. "It's only about two minutes away, and it's a lot better option than staying on the campground if things get serious."

Bathrooms at other campgrounds at Cross Timbers and Fall River State Parks will be open if weather is threatening.

Camp hosts and rangers will do their best to provide warning.

Jones said Woodson County is planning on installing three warning sirens around Cross Timbers State Park by July 4.

This story was originally published May 26, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Warning: No storm shelters at state parks."