New Kentucky Law Will Help Pay for Severe Storm Safe Rooms

Western Kentucky has seen more than its fair share of severe storms over the last five years. (I wonder if there even is a "fair share.")

Certainly, there were extreme weather events before December 2021, but they've increased in frequency since then. And, as you have probably guessed, I specified that particular month because of the catastrophic tornado outbreak that occurred on December 10th of that year, which resulted in more than 500 injuries and 57 deaths. It was one of the worst weather events in the Commonwealth's history.

Kentucky Severe Weather Protection Bill

On Monday, March 23rd, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, in a news release, noted 15 declared weather disasters during his tenure. With that, he announced the signing of Kentucky Senate Bill 11 into law, a move that will help Kentucky residents protect themselves during severe weather.

What KSB 11 will do is offer a rebate to eligible residents so they can better afford storm-secure safe rooms for their homes. The program, administered by Kentucky Emergency Management (KYEM), will give qualifying Kentuckians "a rebate of 50% of the costs incurred to construct or install a safe room in their primary residence, not to exceed $5,000."

If you're unfamiliar with what exactly constitutes a severe weather safe room, there are myriad examples online like this one. By the way, this one is roomier than it looks.

Kentucky.gov tells us that KYEM has been managing community safe room projects for the last 15 years; the projects have been funded by FEMA.

The residential safe room rebate program and fund are set to begin in January of 2027.