Commission Considers New Storm Shelter For Jerusalem Heights Community

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission on Wednesday took the first steps in financing and constructing a new storm shelter for the Jerusalem Heights community in southwest Tuscaloosa County.

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District 4 Commissioner Reginald Murray suggested the construction of a dome-style shelter capable of holding up to 100 people, which would be similar to the one recently opened in Samantha.

After hearing the plan, the Commission unanimously approved to authorize its legal department to begin inquiring as to potential sites for the project.

"There's a piece of property on 58th Street ... that's where we're going to start at," Murray said. "And there are two other properties in the Jerusalem [Heights] community this storm shelter can be constructed on."

Murray also posed the possibility of using funds left over from the construction of a similar storm shelter in Fosters.

At present, Tuscaloosa County EMA says the county has nearly 40 shelters spread out across its different communities. For the Jerusalem Heights community, the closest shelter is the facility in Fosters.

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