The issue of protecting large groups of people at events in northwest Ohio when severe weather strikes is a perplexing concern.The best intentions are to go ahead and build these structures; but finding the money to pay for these safety houses can be a real challenge.

The Defiance County Commissioners talked about this issue with Matt Spiess from Maumee Valley Planning Organization, seeking grant dollars to help the cause.The Boy Scouts are looking at a project for Camp Lakota to construct a safe house, when severe weather hits when boys and their families are in-camp.The original thought was to re-furbish the dining hall facility for this use; but that will not work.So now a new stand-alone facility is being considered.But due to cost constraints they may have to reduce the size from 900 occupants, to close to 450.This project is still in the planning stage.

Another project that’s even further back on the drawing board, is the potential for a safe house at the Defiance County Fairgrounds at Hicksville, when severe weather strikes.There may be a visit to a similar structure at the Delaware State Park scheduled.But the next grant cycle doesn’t get underway till August; so this project is still in the talking stage only in Defiance County.

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