The latest community storm shelter in Walker County was dedicated Monday afternoon in Curry.
The 10×48 shelter, with a capacity of 96 persons, is located on Smith Lake Dam Road next to Curry Fire and Rescue.
“It took a lot of work from a lot of people to make this a reality where we could be here today opening this shelter,” District 1 Walker County Commissioner Keith Davis said.
Davis thanked the unidentified landowner who donated the property where the shelter is located. He also said Senate President Pro Tem Greg Reed (R-Jasper) should also receive credit for securing the funding for the project. County officials and workers were also thanked by Davis for their contributions.
Joe Batton, a member of the Curry Fire and Rescue Board, said the shelter was a long time coming, and residents of the Curry community are excited to have the shelter in place and ready to use.
“There are a couple more little things that need to be done, but it’s ready for use now,” he said. “We are thankful to have it.”
Patton added that a community shelter response team has been put together to help operate the shelter.
“They will organize themselves to have responsibility, maybe during the first week, the second week of of the month, and then they will have instruction on exactly what to do,” he said. “They will carry keys for the shelter, and they will come and unlock it. That’s the only way we can try to satisfy both requirements, to have our firefighters available and ready to respond, and at the same time, have people for the shelter.”
Reed said he has 25 shelters in his district with 21 of them being in Walker County. He said his experience during the April 27, 2011, tornadoes made shelters a priority for him.
“That was a moment for me that I will never forget, and required of me to know how important protection from storms are,” he said. “It’s a privilege for me to come alongside and just be a part of the work that was already ongoing in regards to this project and other projects like it throughout the county.”
