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Construction Nearing Completion for Mississippi’s Largest Storm Shelter

6/21/2019

69 Comments

 
Editor’s note: NSSA members are instrumental in storm-shelter projects all over the country. We will regularly highlight organizations and companies and the work they are doing to keep Americans safe. 

Dome Technology is finishing construction of a storm shelter on the Tupelo High School campus that, when complete, will be the largest community storm shelter in the state of Mississippi.

At 175 feet in diameter, the low-profile dome can withstand an EF5 tornado. The 24,000-square-foot shelter is designed to accommodate 2,000 students in a wind event, and though a large building, it is being engineered to meet city restrictions on height.

“Due to a height restriction on the site, the dome needed to be a 1:8 ratio—that means (the dome) has a very low profile. Being the only dome builder that promotes and builds domes with this low of a profile, we were able to provide the solution for this project,” said Dome Technology sales manager Daren Wheeler.

Federal regulations specified the height of the shelter based on its proximity to a national park. “Because of the sightlines and scenic vistas, we had to keep the height down,” said principal architect Will Lewis of JBHM Architecture. “That low-profile curvature of the dome was what made (the storm shelter) feasible for that location.”

Groundbreaking took place in April 2018, and the project will wrap up this month. FEMA and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency grants funded the majority of the project.

Although intended to serve as command center and storm shelter for the student population at Tupelo High School, the building will be finished as a gym and function as a multipurpose building also. Students will take priority during storms, but on the weekend, the shelter will be open to the public should a tornado be likely.

In an interview with local news station WCBI, Tupelo district athletic director Eddie Moore said, “We’re just proud to have it on our campus. We are the biggest high school in the state, and this reflects another plus for Tupelo High School and Tupelo Public School District.”

More and more storm shelters are being built for cities and school districts where natural disasters are common. JBHM Architecture builds many shelters, most of them domes. “The domes are just more flexible, more efficient, and more cost effective than other safe shelters,” Lewis said.

Dome Technology builds shelters that withstand windborne debris, projectiles, and 250-mph winds. The shelters meet and in some cases exceed ICC 500 specifications and FEMA 361 criteria, which allows many publicly funded entities to apply for and receive grant assistance.

Dome Technology hires local crews to build its steel-reinforced concrete storm shelters with local materials, and a dome’s double curvature requires fewer construction materials and produces less waste. In addition, a dome is a free-spanning structure; no interior supports are necessary, making it possible for these storm shelters to also be used as sports facilities or auditoriums.
​
Key players on this project include Tupelo Public School District, Dome Technology, JBHM Architecture, and general contractor Murphy & Sons.
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What an impressive milestone for Mississippi! This blog highlights the significant progress in constructing the state's largest storm shelter. It's encouraging to see the commitment to public safety and preparedness. The article effectively conveys the importance of having robust infrastructure in place to protect communities during severe weather events. The sheer scale of this storm shelter and its anticipated capacity to accommodate a large number of individuals is truly remarkable. The blog successfully captures the dedication and expertise of the construction team involved in bringing this project to fruition. Once completed, this storm shelter will provide invaluable peace of mind to residents, serving as a safe haven during times of extreme weather. Kudos to all those involved in this commendable initiative that prioritizes the well-being and resilience of the community.

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12/8/2023 02:16:15 am

Wow, it's incredible to see the dedication of organizations like Dome Technology and the commitment of federal agencies like FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency to keep communities safe. Building Mississippi's largest storm shelter at Tupelo High School is a significant achievement.

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Dome Technology is nearing completion of the construction of a storm shelter on the Tupelo High School campus, set to become the largest community storm shelter in Mississippi. With a diameter of 175 feet, the low-profile dome is designed to withstand an EF5 tornado and can accommodate 2,000 students in the event of a storm. The 24,000-square-foot shelter meets city restrictions on height with a 1:8 ratio. Funding for the project primarily came from grants provided by FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. The shelter will serve as both a command center and storm shelter for Tupelo High School, doubling as a gym and multipurpose building on weekends. Dome Technology specializes in building shelters that can withstand severe weather conditions, meeting or exceeding ICC 500 specifications and FEMA 361 criteria. The construction process involves hiring local crews, utilizing local materials, and producing less waste due to the dome's double curvature, which eliminates the need for interior supports.

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This storm shelter is being designed with a low-profile curvature to meet city regulations concerning building height, particularly due to its proximity to a national park. The dome's 1:8 height-to-diameter ratio ensures it meets these height restrictions while still providing robust protection. Daren Wheeler, sales manager at Dome Technology, noted that their company is uniquely capable of building domes with such a low profile, making this project feasible.

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The editor's note highlights the efforts of Dome Technology, a key player in constructing storm shelters across the United States. They are nearing the completion of a significant project at Tupelo High School in Mississippi, where they are building the state's largest community storm shelter. This dome-shaped shelter, 175 feet in diameter, is engineered to withstand an EF5 tornado and will serve both as a storm shelter and a multipurpose gymnasium.

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Dome Technology is nearing the completion of a significant storm shelter on the Tupelo High School campus in Mississippi, which will be the largest of its kind in the state. The dome-shaped structure, measuring 175 feet in diameter and covering 24,000 square feet, is designed to accommodate 2,000 students and withstand the forces of an EF5 tornado.

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Dome Technology is nearing completion of a storm shelter at Tupelo High School, Mississippi, which will be the state's largest. The 24,000-square-foot low-profile dome can accommodate 2,000 students and withstand EF5 tornadoes, meeting height restrictions due to its proximity to a national park. Funded by FEMA and the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency, the shelter will also function as a gym and public storm shelter on weekends. The dome's design offers flexibility, efficiency, and durability against extreme weather. Key partners include Dome Technology, JBHM Architecture, and Murphy & Sons.

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