As tornado season approaches, cities across the country are taking a closer look at their infrastructure and safety protocols. Blaine, a city known for its proactive stance on resident safety, has taken a significant step by amending ordinance 24-2559 to bolster storm shelter requirements in mobile home parks. The new ordinance mandates an increase in available shelter space for inhabitants when severe weather strikes.
Previously, mobile home parks were required to offer a certain ratio of shelter space to residents, but the new rulings underscore a more robust approach. The ordinance, introduced on September 4, 2024, stipulates that each mobile home park should have a minimum of "4 square feet of shelter space shall be provided for each resident of the park", according to the City of Blaine's official statement. It's a move that many of the park's residents hoped would be passed by local authorities.
In addition to expanding the per-person space requirement, the ordinance ensures that mobile home parks have at least one storm shelter for every thirty lots. These are not just any shelters; they are built to withstand the ferocious power of a tornado, offering a minimum of 810 square feet each. Such shelters are constructed so as to provide safety for the mobile home park's occupants, in the event of a tornado, as outlined by the ordinance text.
While the new rules represent a forward-thinking measure ensuring greater safety and peace of mind, they come with their share of complexities. The financial implications of the upgraded shelters are a topic of discussion among park owners. Constructing larger, more fortified shelters comes with a significant price tag, and questions linger about who bears the ultimate cost. Applying the changes, park owners serving a fully inhabited 30 lots must now have a shelter boasting "a minimum area of eight hundred ten (810) square feet", as indicated by the City of Blaine's legislation.
The ordinance was read in full earlier this month and has since been the talk of the town as Blaine readies itself for the unpredictability of Mother Nature.
