FEMA Funds Four New Shelters In Hancock County
Release Date: August 21, 2008
Release Number: 1604-669
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BILOXI, Miss. -- Federal grants will fund four new evacuation shelter facilities in several Hancock County communities. The Leetown and Necaise communities will build two, 3,678-square-foot shelters while the Kiln and Dedeaux communities will build two, 10,650-square-foot shelters. The facilities will be designed according to established federal guidelines for shelter construction.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide nearly $11 million in grants from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to fund the projects. The HMGP is administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency which identifies and manages the projects from beginning to closeout.
Each stand-alone, single use evacuation facility will be built to current FEMA shelter standards. The two 3,678-square-foot shelters will provide protection for approximately 570 people for a period of up to 36 hours. The two 10,650-square-foot shelters will provide protection for approximately 1,800 people for a period of up to 36 hours.
The shelters' design must be coordinated with FEMA to ensure that the construction is in accordance with FEMA 361, Design and Construction Guidance for Community Shelters.
The HMGP grants can be used to fund projects to protect either public or private property, provided the project fits within the state's and local government's overall mitigation strategy and complies with HMGP guidelines.
The objectives of the HMGP are to reduce or eliminate future risk to lives and property from all hazards, provide funds to implement projects previously identified in state or local hazard mitigation plans, and enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Thursday, 21-Aug-2008 16:23:18