FEMA has approved funding for a safe room to be constructed at Cowart Elementary. This safe room is the result of hazardous mitigation money allocated through Limestone County EMA after the 2014 tornado disaster. FEMA is funding $410,460 and the City of Athens and Athens City Board of Education are funding $136,820.

The next step is to prepare bid requests for the project.

The safe room will be available to Cowart students/staff during school hours and open to the public during non-school hours. It will have an occupancy of 442 people.