Due to the overwhelming response of Residential Safe Room applications and because the number of applicants far exceeds the available funding, the Residential Safe Room Grant Application Portal has been closed at this time.
MEMA is planning to reopen the application portal in the future. An announcement will be made when the time comes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What does the application process involve?
The application consists of two parts:
- First Application: This initial step requires only basic information.
- Second Application: After the application period closes, MEMA will contact applicants in the order applications were received. At this stage, you will need to submit additional information, including photos, a safe room quote, and other required details.
Q: How should I enter latitude and longitude coordinates?
Latitude and longitude should be entered in decimal format in the first application. You may leave those fields blank if you are unsure of your coordinates. MEMA will collect and verify this information during the second part of the application process.
Q: When will MEMA begin processing applications?
MEMA will start processing the second part of applications after the application period closes. Applications will be reviewed in the order they were received until all available funding has been allocated.
The Residential Safe Room Grant Program, established by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) with funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation grants, offers Mississippi residents reimbursement for installing a properly designed safe room or storm shelter on their property.
Who Qualifies for Assistance?
- MEMA’s Residential Safe Room Grant Program will be offered to individuals in the counties that were impacted by severe storms, tornadoes, straight-line winds, and flooding in February 2019 and July 2020.
- Eligible counties include Alcorn, Amite, Calhoun, Carroll, Chickasaw, Claiborne, Coahoma, Covington, George, Grenada, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Jones, Lafayette, Lawrence, Lee, Leflore, Montgomery, Panola, Pike, Pontotoc, Prentiss, Quitman, Simpson, Smith, Sunflower, Tallahatchie, Tishomingo, Union, Washington, Wayne, Webster, Yalobusha. Only applicants from the counties listed are eligible to apply.
* Safe rooms purchased and/or installed before receiving an official “Approval Letter” from MEMA’s Residential Safe Room Grant Program are NOT ELIGIBLE for reimbursement.
Eligibility Rules
- Ineligible Safe Rooms: Safe rooms installed before receiving an official “Approval Letter” from MEMA’s Residential Safe Room Grant Program are NOT ELIGIBLE for reimbursement. This includes safe rooms that have already been installed or are currently under construction before approval.
- Eligible Safe Room Types: Only new safe rooms that meet or exceed FEMA P-320 and ICC 500 guidelines are eligible for installation. Please check local building codes, as local authorities may require a permit and inspection. Refer to the “What Safe Room Manufacturer/Vendor Will Qualify” section for details on qualifying safe room types.
- Installation Locations: Safe rooms can be installed either in a garage or as a detached unit above ground, below ground, or partially below ground. Detached units must be within 150 feet (walking distance) of an exterior door of the primary residence and easily accessible to all occupants.
- Eligibility Criteria: Safe rooms must be installed at primary residences on property legally owned by the applicant. The applicant’s legal name must match the property ownership records.
- Single-Family Homes Only:
- This reimbursement program applies exclusively to single-family homes.
- Apartment complexes, duplexes, and other multi-family residences are considered businesses and are not eligible.
- Applicants may only apply for their primary residence; additional homes are not eligible.
- Mobile or manufactured homeowners must own the mobile or manufactured home and the land where their mobile or manufactured home is located to qualify.
- Renters are not eligible to apply.
- One Applicant Per Address: Only one application per physical home address is allowed.
- Community Safe Rooms: Community or neighborhood safe rooms are not eligible for this program.
- Existing Safe Rooms: This program does not cover retrofitting or repairing existing safe rooms to meet FEMA specifications.
- Historic Properties: Applicants residing on historic properties or within historic districts may be eligible. However, additional approval from other agencies may be required, and the applicant may be asked to provide more information or may be deemed ineligible based on specific circumstances.
What Information Do I Need to Apply?
- Safe Room Quote: Applicants must submit a quote from their chosen safe room manufacturer or vendor as part of the application process.
- Location Coordinates: The latitude and longitude coordinates of the proposed safe room installation site are required. These can be easily obtained using a smartphone. An instructional video is provided to guide applicants through the process.
- Site Photos: Applicants must submit 4 clear photos showing the proposed safe room installation site from all directions (North, South, East, and West) and 1 clear photo of the front of the primary residence (at least 5 total photos). These photos can also be captured using a smartphone. Here is an instructional video to guide you in the process.
How Do I Apply?
- Online Application Only: Residential Safe Room Grant Program applications must be submitted online. Click here to access the application portal. Once the application period closes, a MEMA representative will contact each applicant to request additional information and documentation. During that time, applicant questions can also be answered.
- No Paper Applications: Paper applications will not be accepted under any circumstances, and a MEMA representative will not be able to complete applications for homeowners.
- Application Deadline: Applications must be submitted within the specified application period. MEMA reserves the right to close the application period early if the number of applicants exceeds the available funding.
- Assistance Available: If you do not have access to a computer or are unfamiliar with online applications, please seek help from family or friends to complete your application.
- Complete Submissions Only: Applications that are incomplete or missing required information will not be accepted.
When Will I Be Able to Install a Safe Room?
- Ineligible Safe Rooms: Safe rooms installed before receiving an official “Approval Letter” from MEMA’s Residential Safe Room Grant Program are NOT ELIGIBLE for reimbursement.
- Notification and Next Steps: Once the review process is complete, applicants will be notified of approval or denial. Approved applicants will be given detailed instructions on proceeding with safe room installation at that time.
- Safety Precautions: While waiting for a decision on your grant application, having a severe weather and tornado safety plan is important. For valuable preparedness tips, visit MEMA’s website at https://www.msema.org/preparedness-2/tornadoes/.
How Much Money Will I Get and When Will I Get It?
- Reimbursement Basis: The Residential Safe Room Grant Program is a reimbursement program. Applicants must pay for the safe room and installation themselves.
- Reimbursement Amount: Approved applicants are eligible for reimbursement for up to 75% of the costs incurred for the safe room and its installation, with a maximum reimbursement limit of $3,500.
- Processing Timeline: Reimbursement will be issued once the safe room installation is complete, all required documentation is submitted, and a MEMA representative has inspected the safe room installation. Please allow up to 8 weeks for the reimbursement process to be completed after the inspection and submission of documentation.
What Documentation Will Be Required for Reimbursement?
To receive reimbursement for the purchase or installation of a safe room (only after receiving an official “Approval Letter” from MEMA), applicants must submit the following documentation:
- Signed Acceptance Letter: A completed and signed acceptance letter from the program.
- Itemized Invoices: Detailed invoices for all related costs, including the safe room, installation, and concrete pad (if applicable).
- Proof of Payment: Acceptable forms of proof include copies of cleared checks, money orders, or credit card statements.
- Note: Proof of payment cannot be a financing agreement, and payments made in cash will not be accepted.
- W-9 Tax Form: Applicants must complete, sign, and submit a W-9 Tax Form.
- Note: According to FEMA guidance, disaster assistance grants are exempt from income tax, self-employment tax, and employment taxes such as Social Security, Medicare, and federal unemployment taxes. No withholding is required. Please consult a tax preparer or accountant if you have any questions.
- Notarized Contractor Certification: A notarized installation certification form completed by the licensed Mississippi contractor who installed the safe room.
- Safe Room Inspection Form: An inspection form completed by a MEMA representative after installing the safe room.
- Additional Documentation: MEMA may request additional documentation as needed to complete the reimbursement process.
How Does MEMA Process Grant Applications?
- Review Process: After an applicant submits all required information, MEMA and FEMA will undertake a thorough review process. This involves coordination among various departments and may include gathering additional information from other government agencies.
- Processing Order: Applications are processed in the order they are received, prioritizing those that provide complete and accurate information and documentation.
- Handling Incomplete Applications: Applications requiring additional information or clarification will face delays in processing until all necessary details and documents are provided.
Can I Apply If I Live in A Floodplain and/or Wetland?
- Flood Risk Considerations: Safe rooms must be installed in locations not prone to flooding. It is crucial to select a site with minimal risk of flooding.
- Floodplain Restrictions: In most cases, safe rooms cannot be installed in areas designated as Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHAs) by FEMA. However, exceptions may apply for above-ground safe rooms if applicants live in an area where levees, such as Shaded Zone X, reduce the risk of flooding.
- Wetland Restrictions: Safe rooms are also prohibited in designated wetlands, per the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Wetlands Inventory. However, exceptions may apply for above-ground safe rooms under Executive Order 11990.
What Safe Room Manufacturer/Vendor will Qualify?
Not all safe rooms are created equal. To be eligible for the Residential Safe Room Grant Program, safe room manufacturers and vendors must adhere to strict state and federal safety standards. Below are the key qualifications:
- Eligible Safe Rooms: Only new safe rooms, either above ground, below ground, or partially below ground, qualify for the program.
- Blueprints and Compliance: The blueprints for safe rooms must comply with the latest FEMA P-320 and ICC 500 guidelines and carry the seal of a Mississippi-licensed Professional Engineer. Manufacturers/vendors must submit blueprints to MEMA for review and verification.
- Concrete Slab Installation: If a concrete slab is required for installation, it must be constructed according to the blueprints and manufacturer specifications.
- Licensed Contractor Requirement: Safe rooms must be installed by a professional contractor licensed in Mississippi. The contractor is responsible for completing and submitting a notarized installation form to verify the safe room’s installation follows the approved blueprints and specifications. Self-installation by applicants is not permitted.
- Proximity to Residence: The safe room must be installed within 150 feet (walking distance) from an exterior door of the applicant’s primary residence.
- Size Limitation: The interior of the safe room cannot exceed a 16-person occupancy.
- Local Building Ordinances: Applicants must comply with all local building codes and obtain any necessary permits for their selected residential safe room.
Is A Below Ground Safe Room Safer Than an Above Ground?
- Safety Comparison: Due to soil coverage, below-ground safe rooms benefit from natural protection against windborne debris. However, well-constructed above-ground safe rooms are also tested to ensure they can withstand the same hazards. Proper design and construction are key to effective protection in both safe rooms.
Applicants are encouraged to call 1-833-592-6362 (MEMA) for assistance.
*MEMA Disclaimer: MEMA does not endorse, certify, approve, or recommend any safe room manufacturers, contractors, companies, products, or individuals.