Six Schools in Mississippi County Getting “Safe Rooms”

DeSoto County, Miss., school officials plan to build safe rooms at six schools that would serve as safe locations during a tornado.

The Commercial Appeal reports school board members this week approved advertising for bids after being briefed on a $48,000 increase in funding for the project, which will add reinforced free-standing structures under a grant program that is funding 95 percent of the cost. The grant coming from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

School system spokeswoman Katherine Nelson said schools selected for the project were those with a small enough enrollment – 800 or less – that the entire student body could fit inside the building. The selected schools, all elementary, are Hernando, Hope Sullivan, Horn Lake, Lewisburg, Olive Branch and Walls.