SYLACAUGA —A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Wednesday morning for a new community storm shelter. It will provide area residents with a safe location when severe weather occurs.The storm shelter is located at 1408 Edwards St., next to the Coosa Valley Rescue Squad.
“We know how devastating storms can be,” said Mayor Sam Wright. “The shelter only has room for 50 people, but it’s the only one we have, and we’re thankful for it. We also appreciate Coosa Valley Rescue Squad for letting us put it on their site.”
Steve Dover, Talladega County Emergency Management Agency’s public information officer, said the Talladega County Commission has supported a program that has allowed community storm shelters to be provided in Sylacauga and other communities, such as Childersburg, Munford, Winterboro, East Providence, Lanier, Lay Lake and Ironaton.
“We are fortunate to have the full support of the County Commission and Chairman John Carter on this project,” Dover said. “The safety of the citizens of Talladega County has always been of the highest importance for the commission and the EMA. It was a privilege to partner with the city of Sylacauga on this endeavor.
“The cooperation of Mayor Wright and the City Council made this day possible. We look forward to providing more shelters for Sylacauga and other parts of the county, as the funding becomes available.”
Dover said a Hazard Mitigation Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provided the funding for the project.
“FEMA pays 75 percent of the almost $30,000 cost of the shelters, with the community receiving the shelter paying the remaining 25 percent,” he said. “The community storm shelters were purchased through F-5 Storm Shelters, located in Baskin, La. F-5’s shelters are made to withstand any EF-5 tornado, and even up to 330-mile-per-hour winds. The metal shelters measure 24 feet long, 10 feet wide and 7 feet high, and have heavy duty channel iron bracing.”
Dover said the county EMA’s main goal was to put the community storm shelters near facilities that would be open during stormy weather.
“Spring is tornado season in the South, with 50 percent of all tornadoes occurring between the months of April and June,” he said. “Most tornadoes occur between noon and sunset. However, tornadoes are unpredictable, and can occur any time day or night in any month of the year. The eastern two-thirds of the United States have the greatest concentration of tornadoes in the U.S.”
Wright said they still haven’t figured out who will open the storm shelter in the case of an emergency. He said someone from the Coosa Valley Rescue Squad, the police department or fire department will be there.
