Communities selected for Etowah Storm Shelters

The Gadsden-Etowah County Emergency Management Agency received more applications for community storm shelters than there was money to fund. Using criteria based on state recommendations, EMA this week pared the list to  eight shelters the $619,000 grant will fund.

EMA director Mike Bryant said local governments and fire departments submitted letters of intent totaling $2.9 million.

Bryant said EMA also received requests for funding for generators.

Bryant said the area with the most need for a shelter was New Union Fire Department, followed by Walnut Grove community, Egypt Volunteer Fire Department, Sand Valley Volunteer Fire Department and Altoona.

Mountainboro Volunteer Fire Department and two shelters in Gadsden — one in the Walnut Park/Mill Village area and another in Green Pastures — were the other applications approved.  An application for those projects must be filed by Jan. 31 with the state EMA.