Mississippi County Plans New Community Storm Shelter

Clay County, Miss., officials hope to hear soon about funding for a new community storm shelter in West Point.

County Emergency Management Director Kerrie Gentry-Blissard tells the Daily Times Leader currently there is no storm shelter and many residents may not have a place to go during storms.

Blissard says local officials are expecting funding to come from a Mississippi Emergency Management Agency grant.

The shelter costs $5,000 with the MEMA grant covering 75 percent of the cost. The local match will be $1,250.

The shelter is 7-feet wide by 13-feet deep by 7.9-feet tall and will seat 15 people with standing room for more. The walls are about 6-inch thick concrete.

Blissard says no one will be turned away in a disaster.