Construction of Mississippi Shelter Could Begin Soon

The preliminary plans for what will be Adams County’s hurricane super shelter, in Mississippi, are complete.

Adams County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens tells The Natchez Democrat that means construction on the FEMA 361 shelter near Natchez High School could begin August.

The idea for the $3.25 million FEMA 361 hurricane shelter, which will be able to withstand the equivalent of an F5 tornado and be self-sufficient for 72 hours, was first floated in 2009

Most of the funding for the project comes from a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, but the county is required to provide a $162,000 match for the project.

The preliminary plans show a 10,000-square-foot building with bathrooms, a kitchen area and equipment rooms to house a generator and electrical equipment.