Rep. Pat Ownbey of Ardmore says Oklahomans were reminded how vulnerable they can be when several tornadoes ripped through the state in May. Ownbey says lawmakers should take a look at incentives for having storm shelters that better protect Oklahomans.
In 1999, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began the Oklahoma Residential Shelter Initiative. The rebate program was funded with $12 million in federal hazard mitigation funds and resulted in the creation of 6,016 safe room shelters throughout Oklahoma.
In 2003, Oklahoma authorized Operation Safe Room, a similar rebate program giving more than $3 million in rebates by paying 75 percent of the cost of a storm shelter, up to $2,000.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Beryl’s Remnants Spawned 4 Indiana Tornadoes, Including an EF-3: NWS 
What Happened to Reinsurance ‘Class of 2023’? Hard Market Defies Age-Old Patterns. 
Surplus Lines Commercial Growth; Fla. Litigation Costs Reach New High in 2023 
Allstate Seeking 34% Rate Hike on California Homeowners Insurance From This Issue
