The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded a grant worth $328,000 to the City of Broken Arrow. These funds will offset the cost of installing storm shelters for 164 homeowners.
“This is very exciting, that we have federal tax dollars coming back into our community to help save lives,” said City Manager Michael Spurgeon. “We hope to continue participating in this program in the future to allow more residents the opportunity to take advantage of the rebate.”
The City of Broken Arrow received more than 300 applications last October, when it held two meetings to announce details of the Safe Room Rebate Program, which is managed by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM). The program allows homeowners who would like to install a safe room the chance to earn a rebate of up to $2,000. Qualifying residents must own their own home, live in the city limits and not be located in a flood zone.
The City will begin contacting homeowners who were approved for a grant.
They are required to attend another meeting to get instructions for receiving their rebate check. The meetings will be held on March 28 and April 2 at 7:00 p.m. at the Public Safety Complex, 1101 N. 6th Street. Attendance at only one meeting is required.
Emergency Management Director Jamie Ott hopes that another round of funding will be available from FEMA, so that more homeowners can apply for a storm shelter grant in the future.
