Shelter from the Storm
Release Date: November 2, 2004
Release Number: FNF-04-027
- Part 1 - Fort Myers Inn Survives the Storm
- Part 2 - Sturdy Storm Shelter
- Part 3 - Building Retrofits Prove Worthwhile
- Part 4 - Richmond Restaurant Stays High and Dry
- Part 5 - Church Stands Up To Hurricane Winds
TALLADEGA CO., Al. -- Winterboro Fire Department's community shelter was put to its first test during Hurricane Ivan. The shelter provided a safe haven for residents during the high winds and tornado warnings produced by Hurricane Ivan on September 15, 2004.
Prior to this year, residents in the area would arrive at the Winterboro Fire Department looking for a safe place to stay during severe weather. Fire Chief, Kevin Sturdivant, said his team of 20 volunteers would take them in and line the people in the fire station's hallway. However, this was not a safe situation, as the fire station was not built to withstand the high winds produced by tornados.
In 2003, Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) provided a $17,200 grant to install a subterranean stand-alone shelter in the embankment leading to the fire department. The grant provided 75% of the cost. Donated firefighters' labor, cash contribution from Talladega County, and site preparation work by a local contractor provided the remaining 25% costs. The shelter holds fifty individuals and contains bench seating, and telephone, internet access, television, and VHF radio capability. The shelter is designed to FEMA community shelter specifications, as outlined in Design and Construction Guidance for Community Shelters (FEMA 361). It is able to withstand a F5 tornado (winds over 250 mph) and the entrance can withstand the impact of 200 mph windborne debris. The shelter was completed and ready for use in January 2004.
As Hurricane Ivan approached Alabama, members of the community began assembling at the Fire Department. Seventeen people took shelter from the severe weather for approximately 16-20 hours. Among the people was a wheelchair bound resident who lives near the shelter. The gentleman, who has his own key to the shelter, was able to arrive on his own to the wheelchair accessible shelter. Fire Chief Sturdivant says, "the shelter is a great benefit to the community, that I hope will save lives in the future."
Over the last three years, AEMA has provided grants for approximately eleven community shelters. Locating these shelters throughout the state provides a greater level of life safety protection from tornados. And, more community shelters are planned, as funding becomes available.
Last Modified: Friday, 05-May-2006 09:20:30