Times Journal | Sanity prevails on safe rooms

Sanity prevails on safe rooms
Times Journal | October 5, 2011

The Federal Emergency Management Agency reversed field and is going to ease the burden facing some Alabama school systems - including DeKalb County's - on safe rooms that will be installed on tornado-ravaged campuses.

U.S. Reps. Robert Aderholt and Spencer Bachus had been outspoken in their opposition to what had appeared to be the forced destruction of safe rooms at schools including Plainview.

Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said the government is "working toward a common-sense solution that will benefit our students, communities and taxpayers."

Thank goodness.

The Times-Journal was the first news organization to report the wrong-headed FEMA policy that would have provided the bulk of funding for the safe rooms, but then required they be repurchased by the school system, sold and moved off site, or torn down by funds that ultimately would have been reimbursed by FEMA.

Plainview is getting a safe room - made of reinforced concrete and capable of holding hundreds of students and teachers - for use while portable classrooms are in place. The original policy would have required FEMA be reimbursed, or the safe room torn down, once portable classrooms are no longer needed.

"It's never made sense to tear down perfectly good storm shelters, and it's a relief that [it] is totally off the table," Bachus, R-Vestavia Hills, said.

"Ensuring that storm shelters are available to protect our children and citizens has been an even greater priority for Alabama since the deadly tornadoes this spring."

Now, it appears the safe room will be available to the community at large, and not just Plainview students. We're grateful a common-sense solution could be reached.