Bay St. Louis To Receive Federal Grant For Fire Station 

Release Date: September 29, 2008
Release Number: 1604-680

» More Information on Mississippi Hurricane Katrina

BILOXI, Miss. --The City of Bay St. Louis will receive federal funds to upgrade a new fire station to federal shelter standards. The improved fire station will serve as a safe haven for first responders and sheltering for emergency operations.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will provide a $1.9 million grant from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The HMGP is administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency which identifies and manages the projects from beginning to closeout. Community Development Block Grant funding and local dollars will cover the remaining portion of the $2 million project.

The 12,000 square-foot fire station will be upgraded to current FEMA shelter standards, capable of withstanding high winds and the impact of windborne debris during tornadoes, hurricanes and other extreme wind events. The design of the shelter must be coordinated with FEMA to ensure that the construction is in accordance with FEMA 361, Design and Construction Guidance for Community Shelters.

The fire station will include space for the fire department administration staff, as well as living and training areas for regular use, while serving as a shelter for first responders and an Emergency Operations Center during catastrophic events. 

The HMGP 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: Monday, 29-Sep-2008 13:02:26