Storm shelter gives feeling of safety, preparedness in Louisville

WINSTON COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – It’s personal in Winston County.

People who live there may monitor severe weather closer than their neighbors because they lived through a devastating storm.

With the addition of the new Louisville Community Storm Shelter in town, emergency managers said they’ve never been more prepared.

The community shelter is one of several that are open in the county during severe weather.

It also helped add a feeling of safety and preparation in the community.

The storm shelter is an answer to a lot of the anxiety that we’re experiencing today. We did have a tremendous storm two years ago. At that time, we had not a single certified shelter in the county. Today, we have two buildings that can hold thousands of people. We also have other shelters placed around the county where people can seek shelter, said EMA Director Buddy King.

King said that shelters are all open and available when severe weather threatens Winston County.

He said they currently can shelter about 15% of the entire county population, or approximately 3500 people.