WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today announced a $1 million grant for Haysville Unified School District #261, in Sedgwick County. The grant will fund the cost for design and construction of tornado shelters at six area elementary and middle schools.
U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded the grant as part of the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) following the Presidential disaster declaration for the severe winter storm in January 2005. The Kansas Division of Emergency Management allocated the federal dollars to the district, and identified safe rooms in schools as a priority for grant funding.
The Sedgwick County schools to receive the grant funds are the new elementary school, new middle school, Oatville Elementary, Nelson Elementary, Rex Elementary and Freeman Elementary. Additional information on tornado preparedness can be found online at http://www.fema.gov/hazards/tornadoes/.
Senator Roberts is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee and is continually committed to ensuring the safety of Kansas children inside and out of the classroom.
