Ohio EMA offers rebates to homeowners for tornado safe rooms
Portage County homeowners have the opportunity to apply for reimbursement from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency for the construction/installation of a tornado safe room inside or outside their homes.
A safe room is a structure specifically designed to provide protection in extreme weather events. The Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s rebate program provides a rebate of up to 75 percent to homeowners selected for the program.
Applications are being accepted through Feb. 4.
“In neighboring Kentucky last month, a catastrophic tornado killed close to 100 people, and Ohio has seen its own share of deadly tornadoes as well,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “Because our entire state is vulnerable to tornadoes, we’re offering these rebates to help cover some of the costs associated with the added protection of a safe room.”
Last year, the National Weather Service confirmed that 28 tornadoes touched down in Ohio, including the Dec. 11 EF-1 tornado in Hardin County, and two separate tornado outbreaks in October 2021 that totaled 14 different tornadoes.
“Safe rooms offer protection to a tornado’s strong winds and resulting airborne debris and provides near-absolute protection for occupants,” said Ohio EMA Executive Director Sima Merick. “We urge Ohioans to apply for these grants.”
This is the ninth year for the Ohio Safe Room Rebate Program. To date, more than $1.9 million in rebates have been awarded to homeowners for the construction of more than 250 safe rooms across the state.
Safe rooms can be constructed/installed in one of several places in the home, including in the basement; beneath a concrete slab-on-grade foundation or garage floor; or in an interior room on the first floor. A safe room may also be buried in the yard or be a stand-alone structure near the home.
Residents selected for the program are eligible for a rebate up to 75 percent of the cost to install or construct a safe room — up to a maximum of $4,875. For more information and to apply, visit the Ohio EMA Safe Room Rebate Program website at https://ema.ohio.gov/ema_saferoom/saferoom-rules.aspx.
The Ohio Safe Room Rebate Program will use a computerized random selection process to select applicants. A priority list of applicants will be created from the selected applicants. Chosen homeowners will be notified by email of their position on the priority list on or after Feb. 21.
This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Ohio EMA offers rebates to homeowners for tornado safe rooms
