GRAVETTE -- An emergency shelter safe room is rapidly being completed at the North Arkansas Senior Housing of Gravette complex, according to the Area Agency of Northwest Arkansas.
The 762 square-foot room will be able to house up to 90 people and will provide protection to the residents of the property, the Billy V. Hall Senior Complex and Garden Walk of Gravette, as well as for visitors to the properties, the staff, and residents living within a five-minute arrival.
Vickie Watts, director of housing for the Agency, reported 75 percent of the project is being funded through a grant made available through the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, with the Area Agency of NWA covering the remainder of the cost.
"Everyone knows tornadoes can happen at any time and there is no better alternative to dealing with the problem associated with tornadic activity than to construct a safe room," Watts said.
The room is constructed with 10-inch steel bar reinforced sidewalls and an eight-inch similarly constructed ceiling.
"This type shelter reduces the potential impact of wind-related disasters on human lives by providing protection from winds ranging from 75 to 250 miles per hour," Watts said.
An adjacent part of the building, with separate entrances, is an 870 square-foot meeting/social room which will provide additional service and recreation areas for residents.
The Area Agency on Aging of Northwest Arkansas manages 13 complexes in a five-county area -- Baxter, Benton, Carroll, Marion and Washington Counties -- all of which provide equal opportunity housing.
General News on 05/07/2014