Residents in our area can receive up to 75 percent of the cost of building a “safe room” as part of the Ohio rebate program.

The Ohio Emergency Management Agency has announced a program that will provide residents in the state with as much as 75 percent toward the costs of constructing a safe room for weather emergencies.

According to information provided by Ohio EMA, our state is at risk of an EF5 tornado that produces winds in excess of 250 MPH. A safe room is constructed to withstand the wind and airborne debris associated with these threatening storms.

The rebate program covers the construction and installation of a room in several places in your home. This would include the basement, under a concrete slab-on-grade foundation or garage floor, or in an interior room on the first floor. A room could also be buried in the yard or consist of a stand-alone structure near the house.

Residents need to apply for the program with the maximum rebate of $5,250. Application for the rebate program can be made up until 5 p.m. on February 10, 2016. Visit ohioosharpp.ema.state.oh.us/SafeRoom2016/ for more information on the Ohio EMA site.

Selection is made randomly by a computer program. Anyone chosen will be notified by e-mail regarding their position on the list on or after February 15.The Ohio EMA expects the funding to become available this year. The program has funded 127 safe rooms in Ohio to date.

Funding for the program is in partnership with FEMA and the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program. The hope is to be able to offer the rebate on an annual basis. Once funding has been secured, the number of rebates will be determined.

If you would like to learn more about safe rooms, visit the FEMA publications tab on their website.