COLUMBUS, Miss. (AP) — Residents in eight Mississippi counties can get up to $3,500 to build safe rooms as part of a pilot program. The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency says about $2.5 million has been set aside for reimbursements of up to 75% of the cost of construction of such structures, also known as a storm shelter. MEMA anticipates building more than 600 safe rooms in the eligible counties.
Applicants can apply through Oct. 31. This is the first time MEMA has offered such a program since 2010. The program is available to people who live in Lowndes, Clay, Humphreys, Issaquena, Monroe, Sharkey, Warren and Yazoo counties.