Rotarians hear tornado safety tips
By Barbara Gartman
Monitor Staff Writer
GUN BARREL CITY–The Mabank fire marshal reminded Rotary members to take the sound of an emergency siren seriously when stormy weather is expected.
Friday, Mat Ewaskiw told Rotary Club of Cedar Creek Lake members to avoid taking shelter by outside walls or glass windows, if a tornado warning is sounded.
In the past year the lake area has experienced floods, two tornados and several fires.

Monitor Photo/Barbara Gartman
The Rotary-sponsored Mabank High School Interact Club raised $1,000 by selling snacks to their classmates for the Rotary International Polio Plus campaign. (From left) Interact vice president Jessica Toms and president Alexis Tovar presents a check to Rotary Club president Dale Molander and Rotarian and Interact sponsor Rebecca Smith.

When out shopping, a commercial building such as a grocery store or department store should offer protection, especially toward the middle of the building, he said.
However, newer buildings sometimes have more skylights, and falling glass could be a prime danger.
“The Walmart store in Gun Barrel City is an older building and it has fewer skylights, thus still offering a safer place for shelter,” Ewaskiw said.
When tornado sirens sounded recently in Mabank and Gun Barrel City, not everyone sought the shelter as proposed.
“When the sirens went off, people came outside stores and houses to see the tornado,’ he said.
“We actually had to tell people to take cover,” Ewaskiw added.
Then Ewaskiw admitted he also had wanted to see a tornado and had taken a striking picture of the F-1 funnel cloud with his cell phone.
“But I’ve seen one now, and I hope I don’t ever see another one,” he admitted.
Ewaskiw reiterated national weather service advice to seek shelter in a windowless room away from glass and to cover up with pillows, blankets, even a mattress, if possible.
Ewaskiw also invited members to anticipate the many events featured during Western Week in Mabank, June 20-25.
The games day which includes the boot toss or bed race set at 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at the park pavilion. is always a favorite, as is the rodeo action Thursday adn Friday nights.
“Now’s the time to form up a (bed race) team,” he invited.
In other business, Rotary members:
• heard several tributes to the late Sally Rambo from friends who knew her.
• heard Interact students, from Mabank High School, a Rotary-sponsored club, report they had earned $1,000 for the national Rotary Polio Plus project.