New Safe Room Agreement For Fairhope

The Fairhope City Council has voted to apply for funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program to build a safe room at a city site on Pecan Street, Gulf Coast Media reports. Costs for the structure, to accommodate Fairhope first responders during hurricanes or other threats, will cost approximately $862,000 more than initially expected, but Jessica Walker, Fairhope community development director, said FEMA will now pay more ($2.44 million) of the costs. The new funding agreement is part of FEMA reimbursement efforts following 2020’s Hurricane Sally. The safe room will be a 4,072-ft² facility that will accommodate 77 people and be rated to withstand 200-mph winds. Work is scheduled to begin in June 2023 and be completed within three years.