INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) is accepting applications for the Residential Safe Room Program. It gives you a rebate for installing a safe room in your home.
The state will select 25 applicants at random. They will receive up to 75% reimbursement for the safe room installation costs (up to a maximum of $5,000). However, you'll need to front the cost of building the safe room yourself. If you're selected, the state will then cover a portion of the costs. Only one application is allowed per physical address.
The IDHS safe room program was developed in 2015. The rebate is provided through a Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) grant program called Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC).
You can click here to apply for the program. Or click here to get updates.
What is a safe room?
IDHS defines a safe room as "a hardened structure specifically designed to meet FEMA criteria and provide "near-absolute protection" in extreme weather events."
That means it should be able to handle winds as high as 250 miles an hour. It should be designed to protect you from events that last about two hours.
For the IDHS Residential Safe Room Program, the room can be above or below ground shelter that meets FEMA regulations that can be found here.
How can I prepare for severe weather?
If a forecast calls for severe weather there are things you can do. A few days before the weather is forecast to hit, make sure you have emergency supplies on hand, including bottled water, non-perishable food, and a radio powered by batteries or a hand crank. Depending on the kind of weather, you may need other supplies. The Department of Homeland Security has a whole website to help you build a kit.
The day before severe weather, adjust your plans to make sure you can get to a safe place. Make sure you have Weather Emergency Alerts turned on your phone. Clean out your shelter to make sure it has room for everyone who may need to use it. Here's a guide to picking one in your home.
On the day of a severe weather threat, make sure your family knows how to communicate. Double check your plans for getting to shelter if needed. If a warner is issued get to shelter immediately — may have just seconds to respond.