BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Jefferson and St. Clair county residents who want to make their homes and businesses more storm resistant can get advice from FEMA staff at local home improvement and retail stores from Aug. 2 to Aug. 6.
“This is great free information from FEMA engineers and construction experts,” said Luletha Cheatham, FEMA’s hazard mitigation branch director. “These techniques can save lives and property.”
FEMA has how-to literature, building diagrams and a model of a wood-frame house to showcase ways buildings can be strengthened. Using connectors, straps and ties at key joints can transfer the pressure of high winds from a structure’s roof to its foundation.
Residents can also get information on the different types of storm shelters, ranging from pre-fabricated shelters to those built from scratch or included in new home plans. Guidelines will be available for FEMA-approved safe rooms and shelters, along with building plans, information from the National Storm Shelter Association, and demonstration replicas of safe rooms.
FEMA staff will be set up near the entrances to the stores Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Home Depot Walmart
4995 Highway 280 750 Academy Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35242 Bessemer, AL 35022
205-995-9357 205-424-5890
Home Depot Lowe’s
289 Vaughn Lane 1100 Bankhead Highway
Pell City, AL 35125 Graysville, AL 35073
205-338-1070 205-390-5000
FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.
ADECA administers numerous programs to strengthen Alabama communities and has been named the state coordinator for long-term community recovery.