Breaking ground at Smiths Station’s first storm shelter

SMITHS STATION, Ala. ( WRBL ) — On Monday, locals broke ground on a project in Smiths Station that’s been in the works for about five years.

The city’s first storm shelter is set to be built behind the Smiths Station Government Center at 2336 Lee Road 430. The completion goal is a year from now.

According to the City of Smiths Station, the shelter will be able to withstand winds of up to 250 miles per hour. The shelter will be 5,075 square feet and able to hold about 515 people. It will include a back-up generator.

Lee County EMA assisted with Smiths Station’s 90/10 reception of the grant funding — meaning 90% of the cost is paid for by FEMA and the remaining is paid by Smiths Station. Overall, the shelter is just under $2 million and Smiths Station owes about $300,00.

The above-ground shelter will also be used as a community building.

Officials with the city say they’ve been working on getting a shelter since 2019, but COVID-19 set plans back.

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