The public is invited to the grand opening of the Triana Community Safe Room on April 30. This schematic shows the safe space, which can accommodate up to 240 people. CONTRIBUTED

TRIANA – An important new asset to the town, the Triana Community Safe Room will protect up to 240 community residents during severe weather.

The Town of Triana will hold the grand opening of the safe room on April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon. “Please come out and take a tour of our wonderful facility and register for a chance to win a NOAA weather radio,” Mayor Mary Caudle said. Volunteers will program weather radios for guests.

The safe room’s funding involved two grants from FEMA/AEMA and ARC, donations from State Sen. Author Orr and State Rep. Mike Ball and in-kind services for parking lot paving by District 2 County Commissioner Steve Haraway, Caudle said. Private donations also helped with construction.

“With Triana Town Council’s approval, I applied for grants four years ago,” Caudle said. “The grant was awarded at that time. However, due to other natural disasters in the state, monies were held up.”

“We wanted to make sure in the times of severe weather that citizens have a safe place to go,” Caudle said. “At times, the weather was bad and the school bus driver asked if he could the use the gym for a safe place until the weather passed over.”

“The Town of Triana has always known how to come together and stand united to make things happen,” Caudle said. “Due to no real revenue base in the town at this time, we have to search for more resources to get thing done. I’m not afraid of going after it.”

The facility’s maximum occupancy is 220 to 240 community members. The room’s population will consist of Triana residents within a five-minute walking or one-half mile driving distance.

Triana Community Safe Room will open to the public only when a tornado warning or a severe thunderstorm warning with winds in excess of 75 mph is expected for the area. The shelter also will open when tornado sirens have been sounded.

The safe room is ventilated but does not have air conditioning or heating.

Triana Town Hall’s address is 640 6th St. For more information, visit Facebook/Town of Triana.