GEMA Distributes Hazard Mitigation Assistance Funds to City of Savannah

(Atlanta, GA) -- The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security (GEMA), on behalf of Governor Nathan Deal, recently reimbursed the City of Savannah $1,033,889 for costs associated with the construction of a Hurricane and Tornado Safe Room.

The grant project helps fund the construction a hurricane/tornado safe room in the new City of Savannah Critical Workforce Facility. The safe room will provide life safety for 665 members of Savannah’s critical workforce during times of hurricanes and provide safety for 500 citizens during times of tornadoes. The room will be approximately 16,840 square feet and be able to withstand 200 mph winds.

The Chatham Emergency Management Agency (CEMA) will have primary responsibility for management of activities during tornado warning activation. CEMA's Safe Room Operations Plan establishes the guidelines on the activation of the safe room during tornadic activity.

The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program is to provide funds to state agencies and local governments for projects that reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from the effects of natural hazards by breaking the repetitive cycle of destruction and reconstruction.