Video: Tupelo Public Schools Adding Storm Shelters

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The Tupelo Public School District is moving forward with construction of storm shelters at three elementary schools.

Andy Cantrell, director of operations for school system, says the designs for the shelters have been approved by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency.

The project is funded by a grant from MEMA. Through the grant, the state agency will cover 90 percent of the cost, and the remaining 10 percent will be covered by TPSD.

The estimated total cost of the project is $2 million, with the school district portion around $200,000.

The safe rooms also will double as multipurpose rooms on each school campus.

The safe rooms will be built to withstand winds up to 250 miles per hour.