Even though the spring tornado season is looming in Kansas, Lawrence city commissioners were right last week to take a pass on a request to require new single-family homes to have either a basement or a storm shelter.

The decision to bear the added expense of installing a storm shelter in a single-family residence should be left to the buyers/owners of the home. If people don’t feel safe without a shelter or basement, they should have a home with a shelter or basement. If they think they easily can find shelter elsewhere if necessary, that should be their choice.

It’s good advice for all local residents to plan ahead and think what they would do if a dangerous storm were approaching. If they don’t have a shelter or basement in their homes, they should talk to a neighbor with a basement or know of a public building where they can take shelter.

Mandating tornado shelters for all new construction is too drastic a move, but Lawrence has had reminders in recent years of how dangerous a tornado can be. Respecting that danger and planning ahead for your family’s safety could be a life-saving move.