Residents selected for safe room rebate program

(March 8, 2012) - Residents who applied for Oklahoma City’s safe room rebate program earlier this year will be notified of their status by March 16.

Paperwork will be mailed to residents who were selected and those who were selected as alternates for the rebate.  Emails will be sent to those who were not selected.  Residents who were not selected, but don’t have an email address will be sent a letter.

Selected residents are not authorized to install a shelter until they receive a notice to proceed from the City, which can take several months.  Those who move forward with installation will no longer be eligible for a rebate.

“This is a long process that involves application review and approval from the federal government,” said Emergency Manager Sgt. Frank Barnes. “Those selected will not be able to install their shelter this spring and still get a rebate, no matter how badly they want to move forward.”

The Emergency Management Office received 3324 applications for the rebate. Sixty-three homes per ward were randomly selected for a total of 504 Oklahoma City homes.

Those chosen can receive a maximum rebate of $2,000, not to exceed 75 percent of the cost of a storm shelter. Industry experts estimate the cost of a shelter ranges anywhere from $2,000 to $8,000 or more.

Contact:  Kristy Yager
 297-2550 / 863-2831