WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Thad Cochran and Roger Wicker today announced approval of $2.4 million in federal funding to support the construction of a community safe room complex in Jones County, Miss.

The $2.4 million represents 75 percent of the estimated cost for constructing a community safe room that can withstand hurricane and tornado-force winds and the debris associated with such storms.  The overall project, which will be built at the South Mississippi Fairgrounds in Laurel, will cost an estimated $3.2 million, with $802,500 provided by non-federal sources.

“The Jones County safe room represents the ongoing effort to make Mississippi communities better prepared to handle disaster situations.  I am pleased this funding will now be available to move this project forward,” Cochran said.

“Mississippians know full well the importance of emergency preparedness,” Wicker said.  “The safe room supported by these federal funds will help Jones County officials protect local citizens and respond effectively to future emergencies.”

The stand-alone, 10,000-square-foot community safe room project will be built to accommodate 1,000 people for up to 36 hours.  It is being designed to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency’s 361 performance standards.

The Jones County grant is provided through the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which assists states and local communities in implementing long-term hazard mitigation projects.

The FEMA grant was given final approval today in collaboration with congressional appropriations committees.  Cochran is the ranking member on the Senate Appropriations Committee and serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that funds FEMA.