Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) and Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) recently introduced a bill that would help families use disaster loans to construct tornado safe rooms.
“As we’ve seen in years past and most recently in May, tornadoes can cause unbelievable destruction to entire neighborhoods and shake communities,” Cole said. “No one could expect the monstrous storm that tore through my hometown on May 20, but as we rebuild, it makes sense to construct homes that are prepared to face future disasters.”
The proposed bill would allow the Small Business Administration’s disaster home loan mitigation loans to be directed to the building of safe rooms in homes destroyed by tornadoes.
The SBA operates other mitigation activities including retaining walls, sea walls, grading and contouring land, as well as relocating utilities and modifying structures. The Cole and Landrieu bill would allow the SBA is add safe rooms as an eligible mitigation activity.
“As Oklahomans, we have learned to anticipate these disasters each year, and while we can never truly know what each year will bring, this legislation may help ease the minds of those who have suffered unbelievable losses in the past,” Cole said.
Cole’s hometown of Moore, Okla., was devastated by the tornadoes that ripped across the state on May 20. He spent time surveying the damage and meeting with victims. Cole also spent time visiting other areas in Oklahoma that were hit by the tornadoes, including Newcastle and Lawton.