JOPLIN, Mo. (AP) — In the years since a 2011 tornado devastated Joplin, school districts in southwest Missouri and southeast Kansas have scrambled to provide safe rooms to protect their students, staff and patrons in severe weather.

The Joplin Globe reports more than $100 million has been spent on the projects since the tornado, which killed 161 people and destroyed thousands of structures, including nearly a dozen school buildings.

School districts including Joplin, Webb City and Jasper in Missouri and Galena and Baxter Springs in Kansas have built at least one community safe room since the tornado. Crews are working in many other districts to complete or start construction on safe rooms.

The Riverton, Kansas, district recently decided to put a bond issue on April’s ballot that would include funds for storm shelters.