The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency announced that community or group shelters can be built with a 5% cost share and are open to local governments and non-profit organizations for continuity of services.

Mississippi is one of leading states in death and injury from tornadoes and averages 26 tornadoes and 10 deaths each year.

The "Safe Place to Go" shelter program was started in 2001 after a series of tornadoes in central and northeast Mississippi.

Local governments and non-profit organizations (such as volunteer fire departments) are eligible to apply. If interested contact Chickasaw County Emergency Management Agency at 448-1012 by December 11, 2009.

"We currently have community shelters in Houston, Okolona, Houlka, Woodland, Anchor community and Buena Vista community," said Linda Griffin, Interim Director Chickasaw County EMA.

Unlike the last round of grant applications for emergency shelters, this round does not include personal shelters to be installed at resident's homes. The current round of grant applications are designed for public shelters to be housed at non-profit locations such as churches, government buildings and fire departments to provide protection to all citizens in the area in which a tornado may become active.