Just in time for tornado season Ohio is offering rebates to build a safe room.
A couple of years ago retired Cincinnati Police Captain Richard Schmalz built one. "Several people thought I was nuts building the safe room but at the time Ohio was paying 87.5 percent of it and I just thought to myself it's just a cheep insurance policy."
Schmalz, a Delhi resident, has had a couple of close calls and now his neighbors are asking if they can get in the 6' x 4' x 6' steel room that sits above ground directly behind his house and bolted to 22" of concrete.
The current rebate is 75 percent. The Ohio Department of Emergency Management says homeowners that are selected and qualify will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $4,875.
Schmalz's project cost $8,000. He showed me a stack of paperwork with all the requirementsand there are plenty.
The retired Cincinnati Police Captain had to get multiple inspections and do business with an approved vendor.
Schmalz says his safe room can withstand an F5 tornado.
