The City of Foley will begin construction on a new Safe Room designed to shelter first responders during emergencies, marking a major milestone in the city’s emergency preparedness efforts.
A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 9, at 2 p.m. Construction will take place on city property along North Poplar Street, north of the new Public Works campus and south of East Berry Avenue.
Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the project has been years in the making, with city officials working closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency since 2020 to secure funding and approvals.
“We are very excited to begin construction this month,” Hellmich said. “It’s been a long journey working with FEMA, and we’re pleased to see this project move forward. Construction is expected to take about 14 months.”
Once completed, the Safe Room will be capable of sheltering more than 200 first responders during hurricanes and other emergencies. The structure is designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour and will be equipped with a 400-kilowatt generator capable of operating on either natural gas or diesel fuel.
The facility will include kitchen space and other amenities needed to support emergency personnel during extended operations. In addition to serving as a shelter, the Safe Room can function as an emergency command post if other city facilities are damaged. Police and fire personnel will also use the building throughout the year for training and meetings.
Construction is expected to be completed before the start of the 2027 hurricane season in June.
The project is primarily funded through a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, with the city coordinating with federal and state partners over the past several years to bring the project to fruition.