New Storm Shelter A Source Of Pride For Cherokee Nation, FEMA Partnership

FEMA and Cherokee Nation leaders took a tour on Thursday of a community storm shelter under construction in Hulbert. 

The shelter is being built thanks to a FEMA grant to help communities stay safe during severe weather. 

“Not having to travel an hour, two hours away to be able to find shelter is so key to small communities, throughout all of Indian country, so the funding for this project came from both the nation and FEMA, and we’re so proud to be able to help strengthen Cherokee nations already fantastic resilience," said Kelbie Kennedy with FEMA. 

The shelter is right next to the Hulbert Community Center and can fit up to 256 people. Kelbie Kennedy with FEMA says this shelter shows the vital role tribal nations are taking to make sure everyone is safe. She says it's her job as National Tribal Affairs Advocate to highlight the great work FEMA does for tribal nations. 

“For FY21 we put together 21 million for tribal nations, FY22 we doubled that and put together 50 million for tribal nations," she said. 

The shelter is one of seven in the reservation funded by the FEMA grant. 

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. says this shelter is an asset to the community. 

“People want a sense of safety and security, and for many people, they don't have their own, safe room or storm shelter, they want to know there’s a place in their community to stay safe from a storm," he said. 

He says this shelter is a state-of-the-art building and shows the great partnership between FEMA and the Cherokee Nation. 

“Here’s an example of how we work with FEMA, our federal partner to bring something to the community that needs it, FEMA has made these dollars available, we have the capacity to take those dollars and put them into action, and people can see that in Hulbert.”

The shelter should be complete in July.