The Texas A&M system board of regents is waiting for the federal emergency management agency (FEMA) to decide whether to provide 90 percent of the money to build storm shelters at ten locations around the state.
The shelters would also be used during non-emergencies in a variety of functions.
The proposed locations, all on system property, do not include College Station, Prairie View, and Galveston.
The only explanation was given by the chief operating officer of A&M’s Galveston campus. Michael Fossum said it was bad timing to apply in part because of dealing with the repairing the bridge in and out of the campus that was struck by a barge earlier this year.
The proposed storm shelter locations are Corpus Christi, McAllen, Laredo, San Antonio, Beeville, Killeen, Stephenville, Commerce, Texarkana, and Canyon.
During non-emergencies, those shelters would be used…depending on the location…as athletic facilities, lab space, banquet rooms, offices, and community space.
Click HERE to read and download information on the FEMA grant application that was approved at the August 1, 2024 Texas A&M system board of regents meeting.
Click below to hear comments from the July 31, 2024 board of regents building committee meeting.
News release from the Texas A&M system:
Texas A&M University System Regents today approved a plan to build 10 storm shelters worth $254.5 million across the state.
Regents voted to commit about $25 million in matching funds to apply for up to $229 million in Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM).
“This allows us — for just 10-percent of the cost — to build storm shelters at campuses that will be used as basketball arenas, convocation centers or even lab space most of the time, thanks to FEMA,” said John Sharp, Chancellor of The Texas A&M University System.
A safe room is a hardened structure specifically designed to meet the FEMA criteria and provide near-absolute protection in extreme wind events, including tornadoes and hurricanes.
Regents authorized TDEM to apply for the following safe room projects:
• Texas A&M University-Texarkana could build a $16.4 million multiuse facility that will be used for volleyball, cheer and dance team practices, office space, community and campus events when its not being used as a tornado shelter.
• Texas AgriLife Research Station in Beeville could build a $10 million multiuse facility that will be used for community events and offices when it’s not a hurricane shelter.
• Texas A&M University-Central Texas in Killeen could build an $8.5 million tornado shelter that will be used for physical education courses, indoor recreational activities and student gatherings.
• Texas A&M-McAllen could build an $17.8 million hurricane shelter that will also have a gymnasium, multipurpose activity room and a weight room.
• Texas A&M University-Commerce could build a $20 million tornado shelter with basketball and pickleball courts, as well as banquet space.
• Tarleton State University could build a $30 million tornado shelter that will also be used as a laboratory space for agricultural and environmental research.
• Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi could build a $56.8 million hurricane shelter that will double as a 4,000 seat basketball arena, where they will also be able to host events such as commencements, student convocations, guest lectures, faculty and staff meetings.
• Texas A&M University-San Antonio could build a $30.3 million hurricane shelter/athletic center.
• West Texas A&M University could build a $14 million tornado shelter that will also serve as an athletic facility.
If FEMA approves the projects, construction could begin in 2025.