Alabama Governor Signs Storm Shelter Bill

Gov. Robert Bentley has signed legislation that assigns oversight of prefabricated storm shelters to the Alabama Emergency Management Agency.

A bill by Republican Sen. Paul Bussman of Cullman won final approval in the Legislature last week and then went to the governor for signing into law.

The new law requires manufacturers to post a $20,000 bond with EMA, and it requires random inspections of manufacturers and installers of residential storm shelters for fewer than 17 people. It also allows the Alabama EMA to adopt rules to ensure that all prefabricated storm shelters funded by state or federal funds or eligible for state and federal reimbursement meet federal EMA standards.

Bussman said it should allow installers to proceed with projects that were held up by concerns about which agency had oversight.