Statewide Residential Safe Room Grant Program

The Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), with funding support from FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, administers the Statewide Residential Safe Room Grant Program. This initiative aims to increase household safety by helping eligible homeowners install FEMA-compliant residential safe rooms throughout all 82 counties in Mississippi. As natural disasters such as tornadoes pose significant risks in the state, the grant focuses on resilience and preparedness at the household level. The program operates on a reimbursement model, requiring applicants to receive official approval from MEMA before installation. Failure to comply with this requirement results in ineligibility for reimbursement. The grant reimburses up to 75% of eligible safe room installation costs, with a maximum reimbursement cap of $3,500. Homeowners must cover all costs upfront and receive reimbursement only after installation, inspection, and approval of submitted documentation. Eligibility is limited to Mississippi homeowners residing in their primary single-family residence. Manufactured or mobile homes may qualify only if the applicant also owns the land. Renters, duplexes, apartments, and community safe rooms are ineligible. Safe rooms must be new, built to FEMA P-320 (2024) and ICC-500 (2023) standards, and installed by a licensed Mississippi contractor. Installations must occur within 150 feet of an exterior door and are capped at 16-person occupancy. The application window opens on October 31, 2025, and closes on November 30, 2025. Rather than operating on a first-come, first-served basis, the program utilizes a lottery system to select recipients. Each Mississippi county will have 38 grant awards available. If awards go unclaimed in the first round, a second statewide lottery will be conducted. Selected applicants will be notified by email with instructions to complete Step 2 of the application process. Those not selected will not receive an email and are encouraged to reapply in future rounds, pending funding availability. Applicants must submit their initial registration online during the application window. No paper application is available, and MEMA does not assist with application submissions. Applicants must independently coordinate with licensed contractors and are responsible for meeting all local permitting requirements. The installation must be completed within 90 days of approval, with possible extensions granted case-by-case. Once all required documents are submitted and the safe room has passed inspection, MEMA typically issues reimbursement within 60 days. While MEMA cannot guarantee future cycles, the agency intends to reopen the program if FEMA funding becomes available again. Applicants are advised not to begin construction until receiving official approval, as early installation voids eligibility. The program’s recurring nature, eligibility limitations, and rigorous compliance standards emphasize safety, fairness, and accountability.

Do not begin construction before official approval letter is received to avoid disqualification.