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Weather Information
Spring Weather
Spring weather brings storms and severe weather to our area. The City of El Dorado offers two storm shelters that are opened during Tornado Warnings for our area:
- City Hall, located at 220 E. First - Please be aware there are stairs to get to the basement.
- El Dorado Senior Center, located at 210 E. Second - This shelter is ADA Accessible, so please go to the Senior Center if you use a wheelchair, walker or cane, or have difficulty going down steps.
* Please bring anything you need with you to the shelter, such as medications, oxygen, wheelchairs, etc.
- Preparing for a Tornado
- Staying Safe During a Tornado
- Staying Safe After a Tornado
- Staying Safe in Thunderstorms
A tornado can:
- Happen anytime and anywhere.
- Bring intense winds, over 200 miles per hour.
- Look like funnels.
The following are some tips from FEMA.gov:
- Know your area’s tornado risk. In the U.S., the Midwest and the Southeast have a greater risk for tornadoes.
- Know the signs of a tornado, including a rotating, funnel-shaped cloud, an approaching cloud of debris, or a loud roar like a freight train.
- Sign up for your community’s warning system. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) and NOAA Weather Radio also provide emergency alerts. If your community has sirens, then become familiar with the warning tone.
- Pay attention to weather reports. Meteorologists can predict when conditions might be right for a tornado.
- Identify and practice going to a safe shelter such as a safe room built using FEMA criteria or a storm shelter built to ICC 500 standards. The next best protection is a small, interior, windowless room or basement on the lowest level of a sturdy building.
- Plan for your pet. They are an important member of your family, so they need to be included in your family’s emergency plan.
- Prepare for long-term stay at home or sheltering in place by gathering emergency supplies, cleaning supplies, non-perishable foods, water, medical supplies and medication.
- Prepare your family emergency communication plan
For questions during business hours, contact: City of El Dorado Public Works, 222 East 2nd Ave., El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone: 316.322.4481
In the event of a storm, for questions regarding a shelter, call 316-322-5607.
- Immediately go to a safe location that you have identified.
- Pay attention to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, or local alerting systems for current emergency information and instructions.
- Protect yourself by covering your head or neck with your arms and putting materials such as furniture and blankets around or on top of you.
- Do not try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle if you are in a car. If you are in a car or outdoors and cannot get to a building, cover your head and neck with your arms and cover your body with a coat or blanket, if possible.
- Pay attention to EAS, NOAA Weather Radio, and local authorities for updated information.
- Stay clear of fallen power lines or broken utility lines.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you are sick and need medical attention. Wait for further care instructions and continue to shelter in place.
- Wear appropriate gear during clean-up such as thick-soled shoes, long pants, and work gloves, use appropriate face coverings or masks if cleaning mold or other debris.
Severe thunderstorms are storms capable of producing hail an inch or larger or wind gusts over 58 mph.
Act Quickly When Severe Weather Strikes
Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio to stay updated.
- At Your House: Go to your secure location if you hear a severe thunderstorm warning.
- At Your Workplace or School: Stay away from windows if you are in a severe thunderstorm warning and damaging wind or large hail is approaching.
- Outside: Go inside a sturdy building immediately. Sheds and storage facilities are not safe. Taking shelter under a tree can be deadly.
- In a Vehicle: Being in a vehicle is safer than outside; however, drive to a shelter if time.
Winter Weather
When the snow falls, your safety on the streets is our top priority. Whether an inch of ice or 2 feet of snow, City of El Dorado’s Public Works crews know how to respond when inclement weather becomes an issue.
During a major storm, we will issue periodic updates to the local media, through the official city website, and on our social media sites.
El Dorado Public Works crews are constantly monitoring weather situations and will respond with treating and plowing roads when appropriate. Please assist our snow plow crews by remembering:
- Give our snow plow drivers plenty of room on the roads. Stay back at least 30 feet from the read of a snow plow.
- If possible, remove vehicles from the streets. This allows our drivers to clear roads from curb to curb.
- We appreciate your patience - if a significant amount of snow does fall, our snow plow drivers work diligently to clear each and every road in El Dorado.
Learn about how El Dorado determines which roads receive priority during snow removal and how the city plans to ensure all streets are cleared during a snow event.
Contact: City of El Dorado Public Works, 222 East 2nd Ave., El Dorado, KS 67042
Phone: 316.322.4481
Find the answers to questions the City of El Dorado is frequently asked about snow removal (PDF).
Although we do our best to ensure every street is treated and/or cleared in a timely fashion, we may occasionally miss one. Find out how best to report a missed street.
Read helpful hints on how to ensure you and your family stay safe during a snowstorm and around snowplows.
Contact Us
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Brad Meyer
Director
Public Works
222 E. 2nd Ave.
El Dorado, KS 67042
DirectionsPh: 316-322-4481
Fx: 316-321-0490
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Gene Ehrlich
Equipment Operator III, SupervisorPhone: 316-322-4481