By Alabama Public Radio
Washington, DC – Emergency management agencies in 23 counties will share a federal grant to build tornado safe rooms. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded a 966-thousand dollar grant to help finance 276 shelters. The money is part of FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant program. The funds will be awarded to county emergency management agencies and will cover 75 percent of the cost of building the shelters. State and local money will be used to fill in the funding gap. Bibb, Blount, Cullman and Talladega counties are among those to receive the money.