It’s been nearly three months since deadly tornados ripped through parts of the Southeast and devastated hundreds of lives in northern Alabama in late April. And with families still recovering, the state’s Emergency Management Agency wants to aid in protecting future lives by offering financial assistance.

The state EMA office will award millions in statewide grants to individual cities desiring to build storm shelters. State agency officials said Alabama will receive 15 percent of the total funds available. Local cities, such as Valley Grande and Selma, are getting in on the action and intend to apply for the grant.

Dallas County EMA director Rhonda Abbott said the county is getting ready to submit grants to receive the funds.

“The Dallas County Commission voted unanimously on June 13 to submit a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program letter of intent,” Abbott said. “This letter of intent is a non-binding letter stating the commission would like to make a grant request to provide four additional community storm shelters in Dallas County. To date, EMA is looking at prospective sites throughout the county.

“We have to look at population within certain areas of the county, which determines the size of the shelter,” Abbott said. “We also have to be certain a community is willing to assume the responsibility of opening, closing and maintaining the shelter, if the grant should be awarded.”

Three community shelters already exist: at Burnsville Volunteer Fire Department in Burnsville, Keith High School in Orrville and Jim Minor Garden Homes in Tipton.

The HMGP is a 25/75 grant, meaning the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will fund 75 percent and the county will be responsible for matching the remaining 25 percent.

Alabama EMA deputy public information officer Lauree Ashcom said the agency has met with local cities for applicant briefings on fund availability.

“We encourage them to apply for the grant projects and municipalities, and counties have to send in their letters of intent (for grant) by September 1,” Ashcom said. “We administer the grant and make sure paperwork is in and cities have what they need. Different areas will choose different mitigation grants. We can’t start projects unless FEMA approves.”

Ashcom said FEMA will reimburse 75 percent of every project and building guidelines depends on the size of the structure.

“Lots of things go into that so it all depends,” Ashcom said.