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Winfield approves 10% match to pursue FEMA BRIC grant for three community storm shelters
Summary
The Winfield City Council agreed to provide a 10% local match—about $40,000—to apply for a FEMA BRIC grant that would fund three community storm shelters; the city also noted a recent $525,000 allocation from Senator Gudger’s office for Station 2 upgrades.
The Winfield City Council voted to authorize a local 10% match to apply for a FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant to install three community storm shelters across the city.
The request came during the council’s May 7 meeting when an agency official updating the council on fire and emergency grants said, “One of the processes of getting the applying for the grant is having you as the council and the mayor approve the 10% match which will be roughly $40,000.” The presenter added that the shelters would be FEMA-rated and ADA-compliant and that they would be generator-powered.
Why it matters: BRIC grants support resilience to natural hazards; local shelters can provide higher-capacity, code-rated refuge during severe storms in areas vulnerable to tornadoes and high winds. Council members said having dedicated shelters would improve public safety across neighborhoods that lack nearby safe structures.
Details presented to the council included the shelters’ estimated capacities (presenter described models as 250–357-person, FEMA-rated units), ADA-compliant access and restrooms, and generator backup. The official also noted the city recently received $525,000 from Senator Gudger’s office earmarked for Station 2 improvements and said staff are meeting with federal and state representatives to pursue additional funding for station work.
Council discussion touched on grant-writing costs and procurement. The presenter told the council they had engaged a grant-writing firm; the one-time cost cited for that service was $3,500, which the presenter characterized as a reasonable investment given the grant size. Council members agreed staff should finalize the application packet and submit required commitment documents.
The council followed the staff request with a motion to authorize the city to provide the required match and to approve necessary application documents. The council voted in favor and directed staff to finalize and submit the application and related letters of commitment.
Next steps: Staff will complete the BRIC application, include the city’s 10% match commitment in the submission, and continue coordination with the mayor’s office and state/federal representatives on siting and funding for shelters and station improvements.
