FEMA Approves $2.6 Million for Potosi Community Tornado Safe Room

CHICAGO - FEMA has awarded more than $2.6 million to the Potosi School District to construct a safe room providing critical life safety protection for up to 584 people within a quarter-mile walking distance and half mile driving distance. The safe room is designed to withstand winds up to 250 mph, offering near absolute protection during tornado and high-wind events. At least 26 tornadoes have tracked through Grant County over the years, resulting in dozens of injuries and tragic loss of life, underscoring the need for this project.

This project addresses the current gap in safe shelter options at the school, where existing spaces cannot protect all students and staff from severe weather threats. The new safe room will ensure the entire student body, staff and residents within the protection zone have a single, secure location to seek shelter, simplifying evacuation procedures. When not in use for emergencies, the safe room will serve as a multi-purpose community fitness center, benefiting students and the broader community year-round. This investment strengthens the safety and resilience of the community, providing lasting benefits for all residents.

For this project, FEMA will pay 90% of eligible project cost and the remaining 10% will be provided by the Potosi School District and the State of Wisconsin. FEMA has also provided more than $148,000 to assist the Potosi School District in managing the grant.

This grant is awarded through FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program which empower states, local governments, Tribal Nations and territories to develop long-term solutions and complete projects that mitigate risk, create safer communities and protect infrastructure from future severe weather events.

FEMA coordinates directly with the state on all hazard mitigation projects. This aligns with FEMA's principles of ensuring that disaster recovery and mitigation is state-led and federally supported. These projects are the latest examples of billions of dollars in disaster recovery provided by FEMA to support state and local communities as they work to rebuild from recent natural disasters.