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Four structures to be built with federal grants
SUN HERALD
Hancock County officials marked the ceremonial start of construction of four new shelters with a groundbreaking last week in Kiln.
The shelters, all funded by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program through MEMA, will provide protection for more than 2,300 people during hurricanes and other disasters.
Rocky Pullman, president of the Hancock County Board of Supervisors, talked of the devastation Hurricane Katrina brought to the county in 2005, as well as the significance of the recovery progress.
“We’ll be breaking ground a lot in Hancock County in the coming months,” Pullman said. “We’ve had a lot of good people helping us from the state and federal agencies.”
According to MEMA Director Mike Womack, a lack of shelters outside the surge zone presented challenges to the local and state emergency management personnel when Katrina struck the Coast.
MEMA and FEMA officials were on hand to celebrate with Pullman and other local leaders.
“After Katrina, one of my first priorities was to increase the number of shelters in safe places,” Womack said. “I commend Hancock County and the elected and appointed officials and the tremendous work they’ve done.”
The four shelters are funded by HMGP grants totaling more than $11 million. The combined 28,656 square feet of shelter space will accommodate 2,370 people for up to 36 hours during hurricanes and other disasters.
“When our neighbors in other counties or states are threatened by a hurricane, we will open the shelters to them if we’re not under the same threat,” Pullman said.
The shelters are being built throughout northern Hancock County, out of the surge zone in the southern part of the county. The Dedeaux and Kiln communities are each getting a 10,650-square-foot shelter designed to accommodate 900 occupants. The other two facilities, planned for the Necaise and Leetown communities, are both 3,678 square feet and will accommodate 285.
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