TUSCUMBIA — Fifteen additional storm shelters have been approved for unincorporated areas of Colbert County, bringing the total of shelters approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to 21 in the county.

FEMA also has approved an additional 16 severe weather warning sirens for the county, Emergency Management Agency Director Mike Melton said.

Melton said it will cost the county $2.07 million to build the shelters, which will vary in size from a 50-person capacity shelter to one capable of accommodating 95.

In August, county commissioners approved $516,959 in matching money, which will likely be provided in cash and in-kind work and could include the cost and preparation of the property.

Melton said he is awaiting approval for one more shelter.

The shelters will be constructed of prefabricated concrete and equipped with doors that can be opened by a radio frequency sent out by the EMA, Melton said.

The new shelters will be primarily in rural areas, Melton said, with a few inside city limits.

Melton said he expects to receive approval for five more warning sirens, which will give the county 21 new sirens. The county currently has 31 sirens in various parts of the county.

Melton said FEMA will pick up 75 percent of the cost of the sirens, with local governments providing the remainder through cash and in-kind work.

A warning siren with 10 loud speakers costs $26,000-$27,000, while a five-speaker siren costs $14,000-$15,000.

He said the sirens will have the same capabilities as the existing ones, which can blast an air raid style signal and serve as a public address system. They also can be tested without being activated.

While having 52 sirens throughout the county will help, Melton said the county will not be totally covered.

“We’re kind of fortunate, and I appreciate the commission going along with us to get everything,” Melton said.

Melton thanked state EMA officials for their role in assisting the Colbert EMA with applications for the sirens and storm shelters.

“Their mitigation department has helped us tremendously as far as getting applications the right way so FEMA would accept them,” Melton said.”

Matching money for the shelters will come from the county’s capital improvement fund, said James Brumley, the county’s general fund accountant.

The county will have three years to complete the construction of the 21 shelters, and Brumley said the commission will be able to spread the expense over that period.

Melton said he expects to be able to solicit bids to purchase the sirens and construct the storm shelters later this year.

“I’m just tickled with Mike Melton and his hard work and the commission for being on board to get our county as prepared as we can be,” Commissioner Jimmy Gardiner said. “It’s already proven we live in an alley that’s very dangerous.”

He said the additional shelters will help save lives during severe weather outbreaks.

The call for additional storm shelters throughout the state came after the devastating tornado outbreak of April 27, 2011. The use of existing storm shelters increased dramatically after the outbreak that killed 238 Alabamians.

Colbert County has storm shelters in Leighton, Ford City, Cherokee and Littleville.

Russ Corey can be reached at 256-740-5738 or russ.corey@TimesDaily.com.

Community storm shelters: