5.1 Million for Pre-Disaster

Blunt Announces over $5.1 Million for Pre-Disaster Mitigation Awards

JEFFERSON CITY, September 5, 2006-Gov. Matt Blunt announced Missouri will receive over $5.1 Million for four Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive Awards to build five storm shelters inside schools. These projects competed nationally for scarce funds.

“I congratulate the communities and their school districts for their proactive pre-disaster mitigation projects designed to save lives,” Blunt said. “Without the federal assistance, these projects would cost the communities more than $6.7 million.”

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has a State Mitigation Plan and each of the four award recipients has or participated in a local Mitigation Plan. The local plans identified community safe rooms as a way to mitigation against future disasters.

“For many rural towns, the schools are the heart of the community. It makes sense to use pre-disaster mitigation dollars to build a large secure community safe room in a school building. Traditionally schools are used as shelters after a disaster. Now, the same schools will become a safe haven during severe weather events,” Ronald M. Reynolds, SEMA Director.

This past spring, a series of devastating tornadoes destroyed hundreds of homes across Missouri, killed 12 citizens, and injured hundreds. A community safe room ensures citizens have a centrally located shelter, where they can quickly go before a tornado strikes.

Normally, the federal share is 75 percent of each mitigation project. Each applicant is responsible for the local match for the project. Community Safe Room Projects were approved for:
· Ava R-1 School District. The federal share is $1,996,816. The total project will cost $2,662,422.
· Howell County for community Safe Rooms in the Howell Valley R-1 Schools, and the Fairview R-XI Schools. The federal share for the two safe rooms is $2,280,540. The total project for the two safe rooms will cost $3,040,720.
· Webster County in partnership with the Niangua School District and the City of Niangua. The federal share for this project $281,272 (or 90 percent of the project). The total project will cost $312,525.
· Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. The federal share is $566,359. The total project will cost $755,146.

*News Release*
*Public Safety*	Matt Blunt, Governor	Mark James, Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE For more information, please contact: Terri Durdaller Communication Director Work:(573) 751-4819 Cell: (573) 301-2023
Blunt Announces over $5.1 Million for Pre-Disaster Mitigation Awards JEFFERSON CITY, September 5, 2006-Gov. Matt Blunt announced Missouri will receive over $5.1 Million for four Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive Awards to build five storm shelters inside schools. These projects competed nationally for scarce funds. “I congratulate the communities and their school districts for their proactive pre-disaster mitigation projects designed to save lives,” Blunt said. “Without the federal assistance, these projects would cost the communities more than $6.7 million.” The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) has a State Mitigation Plan and each of the four award recipients has or participated in a local Mitigation Plan. The local plans identified community safe rooms as a way to mitigation against future disasters. “For many rural towns, the schools are the heart of the community. It makes sense to use pre-disaster mitigation dollars to build a large secure community safe room in a school building. Traditionally schools are used as shelters after a disaster. Now, the same schools will become a safe haven during severe weather events,” Ronald M. Reynolds, SEMA Director. This past spring, a series of devastating tornadoes destroyed hundreds of homes across Missouri, killed 12 citizens, and injured hundreds. A community safe room ensures citizens have a centrally located shelter, where they can quickly go before a tornado strikes. Normally, the federal share is 75 percent of each mitigation project. Each applicant is responsible for the local match for the project. Community Safe Room Projects were approved for: · Ava R-1 School District. The federal share is $1,996,816. The total project will cost $2,662,422. · Howell County for community Safe Rooms in the Howell Valley R-1 Schools, and the Fairview R-XI Schools. The federal share for the two safe rooms is $2,280,540. The total project for the two safe rooms will cost $3,040,720. · Webster County in partnership with the Niangua School District and the City of Niangua. The federal share for this project $281,272 (or 90 percent of the project). The total project will cost $312,525. · Metropolitan Community College in Kansas City. The federal share is $566,359. The total project will cost $755,146.
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