COOKE COUNTY, TX-- Cooke County Emergency Management Office has been approval by the State of Texas and FEMA of Cooke County's Individual Safe Room Rebate Program grant.

The county applied for $450,000 to aid county residents by reimbursing half the cost of the purchase and installation of a certified individual safe room/shelter, up to $3,000 per shelter.

The program was first announced in May of 2011 and residents were encouraged to sign up on a first come first served list of those interested. There are currently 168 signed up. Interested residents are still encouraged to sign up as not all who are on the list will choose to participate in or qualify for the program.

1. Applicants must own and reside at the property in Cooke County for which they are applying.

2. Shelter and installer must be certified by National Storm Shelter Association or American Tornado Shelters Association.

3. Those residents residing in incorporated communities must comply with those communities permit process.

4. The residence must lie outside of a FEMA or locally mapped floodplain.

5. Participants will be required to pay for the shelter and installation then submit invoices and receipts for reimbursement.

More information will be provided at a public meeting on the 24th of July, 6:30pm at the Gainesville Civic Center.

Contact the Cooke County Office of Emergency Management at 940-668-5400 for more information.