COLUMBUS – The state is again offering rebates to Ohioans who construct tornado shelters in their homes.
Want to be reimbursed for up to 75 percent of the costs to install a tornado safe room somewhere on your property? If so, you have until April 1 to apply for the Ohio EMA Safe Room Rebate Program. Find out more at https://t.co/EQrVCFvJUw. pic.twitter.com/SfeH3rg77b
— Ohio Emergency Management Agency (@Ohio_EMA) February 4, 2019
The Ohio Safe Room Rebate Program provides a rebate of up to 75 percent of the cost to install or construct a safe room, up to a maximum of $4,875, said Steve Ferryman, head of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s mitigation branch
“The entire state of Ohio is at risk of an EF5 tornado, which produces 250 mile per hour winds capable of destroying most structures. A safe room is built to withstand these winds and resulting airborne debris and provides near absolute protection for occupants,” he said.
A safe room installed in the basement, beneath a concrete slab foundation or garage floor, in an interior room on the first floor or buried in the yard, or as a stand-alone structure serves as a shelter from extreme winds during a tornado.
Homeowners have until 5:00 p.m. April 1 to apply on the Ohio EMA website.
The agency will use a computerized random selection process to select applicants from a priority list of applicants.
Chosen homeowners will be notified by e-mail of their position on the priority list on or after April 5th.
The shelters must meet Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements in FEMA publications 320 and 361 and cannot be constructed prior to the rebate drawing and notification.
Funding for the program is made available through a partnership with FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. The state plans to offer the rebates every year as long as funding is available.