MERIDIAN —
The memory of Hurricane Katrina has not faded much in the seven years since that devastating August day and because of her lasting impression, Lauderdale County is still reaping the benefits of a proactive approach to preparing for any and all types of natural disasters.
Tuesday morning, in the chambers of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, board president Joe Norwood announced the awarding of a $3.2 million grant from FEMA and MEMA earmarked for the construction of the Lauderdale County Community Shelter. Norwood, flanked by county and state officials, said this building will make Lauderdale County more disaster resistant in the future.
"There are about a dozen shelters that have either been built, are being constructed, or on the drawing board to be built in various parts of the state now and we are pleased to get one for our residents," Norwood said. "We, and officials with the City of Meridian who partnered with us, agree this will be a plus for everyone."
Robert Latham, director of the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency during Katrina, and who was just recently coaxed out of the private sector by Gov. Phil Bryant to assume the old position he left in 2006, said this was a perfect example of something needed to be done.
"The governor's philosophy is whatever needs to be done to save lives we need to do it now," said Latham.
The shelter will be built to withstand storm winds up to 250 mph, according to David Sharp, director of the Lauderdale County Emergency Management Agency. He said the 10,000 square foot building will hold 2,000 people for a short period of time, and 500 people for longer periods. The shelter will be located south of the Lauderdale County Agri-Center on Highway 19 South.
"It will depend greatly on the type of disaster we are dealing with and the projected time we will need to shelter people as to how many we can safely handle," Sharp said. "Those decisions will be made as the circumstances make themselves known."
Sharp said the American Red Cross will supervise the shelter during these disaster incidents. In the meantime, when no emergency is imminent, the shelter will be available for special functions, Sharp said.
"This is a positive development for us and will only bolster our ability to deal with natural disasters and those people it affects," said Sharp.
Members of the Board of Supervisors may vote to accept this grant money as soon as next Monday.
Local News
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Joe Norwood, president of the Lauderdale County Board of Supervisors, announced Tuesday morning the awarding of a grant worth $3.2 million from FEMA to construct a community shelter in Lauderdale County. Brian Livingston
Discussion
Shelter from the storm
$3.2 M grant to fund community shelter
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