WESSON, Miss. — Copiah-Lincoln Community College has received a major FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to build a nearly 35,000-square-foot, standalone multipurpose safe room on its Wesson campus, federal and college officials said Monday.
FEMA awarded $16,294,746 for Phase II construction and a $175,000 administrative grant for the project. Those awards, combined with a nearly $1.6 million planning and design grant awarded in 2024, bring the federal investment in the project to just over $18 million.
U.S. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith said the grants will create more safe spaces in Mississippi. “We’ve been through enough severe storms in Mississippi to understand the value of safe rooms. I’m pleased with these FEMA hazard mitigation grants to create more safe spaces in our state,” she said. Hyde-Smith serves on the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee that has jurisdiction over FEMA.
Co-Lin said the new facility will accommodate more than 2,000 occupants and will double as a gymnasium for the college’s basketball and volleyball programs. “The safety of our students, employees, and community is always a top priority for Co-Lin,” Co-Lin President Dewayne Middleton said, thanking Hyde-Smith, FEMA, the federal delegation and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency for their support.
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program helps fund projects that reduce risks from disasters. Mississippi’s vulnerability to severe storms has made safe-room construction a priority for many communities. This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
