Once the April 27, 2011 tornado that left part of Fultondale wrecked, city leaders feared that some of their neighbors may have perished.

Fortunately, and what Mayor Jim Lowery called a miracle, no residents were killed or seriously injured. Once photos of the carnage showed up on television newscasts of the hard-hit Glendale neighborhood behind city hall, it was hard to disagree.

Many homes were destroyed or seriously damaged, and blue tarps remained on many other homes that suffered roof damage.

Before the storm hit and with sirens wailing, about 80 locals jammed the lower level of the library in hopes of ducking the tornado that they saw devastate Tusca­loosa live on television, then roar toward the east.

Following that terrible experience, Lowery realized the library basement was not adequate or certified protection. City leaders knew they had to do something in case the unthinkable happened again, a repeat visit by an EF-4 tornado.

Lowery instructed his building official, Darryl Aldrich, to begin working on securing large underground shelters, about the only safe place to escape that kind of disaster. Aldrich visited the town of Brookside and discovered what Fultondale needed.

Passers-by do not realize what is in the new town hall complex – an underground shelter that can hold four hundred people.

Brookside knows a little about disasters, too. The small town was almost swept away on May 7, 2003 when Five Mile Creek swelled and ravaged the old downtown area.

That’s when Brookside Mayor Roger McCondichie went to work securing grants to help rebuilt once the floodwaters receded. One of the first items on the agenda was safe shelter for town residents.

“We built the storm shelter first, then built the fire station on top of it,” said McCondichie, as he gave a guided tour of the hidden gem. “It’s like a bomb shelter. We have heat and air, bathrooms, even a big screen TV.”

Indeed, the 18 inch-thick poured concrete walls would remind visitors of a World War II bomb shelter as depicted on old war movies. On two walls are shelving, some have stacks of portable folding cots in case of prolonged stays.

“We have meetings here,” said of the large room. “But you can’t set up a permanent office. It’s a storm shelter.” The one thing McCondichie recommended to Aldrich was to add an elevator instead of the two separate stairway entrances, in order to safely move handicapped individuals or those in wheelchairs. There is a one-seat lift on the stairway, but it moves slow and during a disaster seconds count.

It is equipped with a backup power that runs on natural gas in case the power goes out. It ensures shelter lighting and air control, but also allows emergency communications which is vital in any disaster situation.

“This the only one in the state,” said McCondichie. “There is one for the FEMA people, but this is the only one for residents. If a tornado comes through here, this is the safest place in Alabama.”

McCondichie was happy to assist Aldrich in planning Fultondale’s underground shelters. Brookside has been the recipient of several Fultondale surplus police cars.

Meanwhile, Aldrich is hoping to soon receive confirmation from FEMA about the $1.4 million grant that will pay for two identical shelters like the one in Brookside.

“We want to put one at the fire station by city hall, and the other one by the new fire station,” said Alford. The city recently dedicated Fire Station No. 2 on Walker Chapel Road, just west of Interstate 65. “When we get our two, I think it will be a major influence in the area. We will be able to protect 800 people.”

The grant will require a 20 percent match, Aldrich said, but that could include labor or other work credited toward the match. “I would rather have it and not use it, than need it and not have it,” Aldrich said of the sunderground storm shelters.

There is no guarantee that Fultondale’s grant application will win FEMA approval, but city leaders are encouraged so far in the process and are waiting for good news from the federal government. Once the funding is secured, Lowery said the city is committed to building both underground shelters.

Lowery added that after that $1.4 million grant is secured, the city will apply for another grant to fund a shelter for residents of the One Hundred Oaks mobile home park just off U.S. 31. Lowery said he is working with the mobile home park’s owner to deed a portion of the park property for that purpose.

Over the last few years the city has obtained grants to purchase nine flooded homes along the area of Stouts Road that crosses Five Mile Creek. That area is now home to a popular park designed for small children and has restrooms, a walking track, picnic tables and playground equipment for toddlers.

Roger McCondichiexxxx