FEMA Awards $300,000 Grant to Delaware County: Hazard Mitigation funds will be used to construct two tornado safe rooms

CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released an initial amount of $300,000 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funds to Delaware County, Ohio, for the construction of two community safe rooms at the Delaware State Park. Additional federal funding will be provided based on project completion. Following the completion, the community safe rooms will be made available to the citizens of Delaware County.

“The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program enables communities to implement critical mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the risk of loss of life and property,” said FEMA Region V acting administrator Janet Odeshoo.  “The construction of these community safe rooms will protect the lives of citizens by providing secure locations to seek shelter from tornados and other high wind events.”

“These community safe rooms will provide protection to campers and other park users during a tornado and severe storms.  The buildings are multi-purpose and when not being used for storm protection can be used for meeting space, naturalist programs, and other similar activities” said Nancy Dragani, executive director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

HMGP provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures. The overall eligible cost of this project is $800,000, with 75 percent of the approved total paid by FEMA, and the remaining 25 percent of funds provided by Delaware County and the state of Ohio.

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Media Contact: Cassie Ringsdorf, (312) 408-4455