Foley, Ala. — (OBA) —  As construction continues on a new safe room in Foley, city and county officials are taking additional steps to prepare the site for use by first responders during major emergencies. The facility is being built to provide firefighters, police, and other emergency workers with a secure place to stay during hurricanes and other dangerous storms. It will also serve as a training center when it is not being used as a shelter. The site sits at the intersection of East Berry Avenue and North Poplar Street in Foley, on land the city acquired from Baldwin County, which still owns adjoining property.

Construction on the safe room began earlier this year, and the facility is scheduled for completion in 2027. At its last meeting, the Foley City Council approved an agreement to extend utility easements to the construction site. Foley and Baldwin County will each provide part of the land needed to ensure power and other services reach the building.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich said the shared easement demonstrates how the city and county are working together on the project. “We’re not doing the whole easement on the city side,” Hellmich said. “We’re taking half of the city’s property and half of the county’s, so we jointly share that easement coming into both of our properties.”

Buford King, Foley projects director, said the joint effort will allow Riviera Utilities to bring electricity to the safe room. “The two easements, working together, will give Riviera the access they need to bring power into the first responder safe room,” King said. The city is also improving lighting around the site to make it safer and easier to access after dark.

The council approved a plan to install three decorative streetlights along East Berry Avenue, where the building is under construction. City officials said the additional lighting will help emergency crews move in and out of the area more safely during storms and at night. The lights will also help neighbors and drivers see activity around the site.

When complete, the safe room will be able to house more than 200 people during a hurricane or similar event. The structure is being designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour, providing first responders with a place to stay near the communities they serve, even in the strongest storms. Inside, the building will include kitchen facilities and other features needed to support crews for extended periods.

The safe room will also have a 400-kilowatt generator that can run on either natural gas or diesel fuel. That backup power system is intended to keep lights, air systems, and equipment running if the power grid goes down during a hurricane. With the generator, kitchen, and shelter space, officials say the facility should be able to support emergency workers during extended emergencies while they respond to calls across the area.