The city of Parsons is working with Labette Community College on the possible construction of a new storm shelter.
City Manager Debbie Lamb told city commissioners Monday evening that she and her staff have been brainstorming for ideas on how a new community tornado shelter could be built. The staff wants to discontinue the use of the Parsons Municipal Building basement as a storm shelter because it doesn’t meet Federal Emergency Management Agency standards. Parsons USD 503 has FEMA-approved community storm shelters at its three elementary schools and Parsons High School, but those aren’t available to the general public during school hours.
Lamb said Laura Moore, community development director, has discovered that FEMA will pay 75 percent of the costs for a community storm shelter. LCC is getting ready to build an addition to its gymnasium, and city staff is interested in possibly incorporating a safe room into the addition.
(Read more: Parsons Sun)