Storm shelter grants and rebates in Arkansas
If you're putting a shelter at your own house in Jonesboro, there's currently no state rebate, state grant or state tax credit to help pay for it. Federal safe room money exists, but it goes through state and local governments, and Arkansas says it isn't available for individual shelters.
The Arkansas shelter rebate ended in 2016
The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) used to give a rebate to homeowners who installed a tornado shelter or safe room. That program ended in 2016. ADEM now says it doesn't offer any state or federal financial assistance for individual shelters, and that FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and BRIC program aren't available for them (Arkansas Division of Emergency Management).
Some websites still describe the rebate as if you could apply today. Check the date on anything you read, and treat ADEM's own page as the final word.
The 2025 tax credit bill didn't pass
HB1366, filed in February 2025, would have created a state income tax credit for qualified storm shelters. It died in a House committee when the 2025 session adjourned (Arkansas Legislature, HB1366).
What FEMA funds
FEMA says homeowners don't apply to it directly for safe room money. Its hazard mitigation grants go to states, which pass them to local governments, and FEMA can pay up to 75 percent of an eligible project's cost. HMGP money becomes available after a major disaster declaration, and the list of eligible projects includes residential and community shelters in tornado-prone areas (FEMA, Safe Room Funding).
FEMA's advice for homeowners is to ask the State Hazard Mitigation Officer about eligibility. In Arkansas, ADEM's current answer for individual shelters is no, so any change would come as a new announcement from ADEM.
Where public shelter money goes instead
ADEM says it has worked with FEMA to fund more than 180 community safe rooms across the state (ADEM, Community Safe Rooms). Those are public buildings, and the money goes to the city, county, school or nonprofit that builds one.
The state's Rural Community Grant Program also lists publicly owned storm shelters as an eligible project, but only for towns and communities under 3,000 people, and the city or community applies, not the homeowner (Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program application packet). Jonesboro is far too large to qualify.
Ways to keep the cost down
- Get quotes for the same shelter type and size from more than one installer so you can compare line by line. The price guide has national ranges to check them against.
- Look at the cheaper types. Angi puts garage shelters set on the slab at $3,000 to $9,000 and bed shelters at $2,100 to $4,500, against $4,200 to $30,000 for in-ground units (Angi, 2026 tornado shelter cost guide). The shelter types page covers the trade-offs.
- If you're building a house, NerdWallet notes a safe room is cheaper to add during construction than afterward (NerdWallet storm shelter cost guide).
- Ask each installer whether they offer financing, and read the rate and terms before you sign.
Quick answers
Does Arkansas have a storm shelter rebate?
No. The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management ended its homeowner shelter rebate in 2016 and says it does not offer state or federal financial assistance for individual shelters.
Can I get a FEMA grant for a storm shelter at my house?
Homeowners do not apply to FEMA directly. FEMA hazard mitigation grants go to states and then local governments, and in Arkansas ADEM says HMGP and BRIC funds are not available for individual shelters.
Is there an Arkansas tax credit for storm shelters?
Not currently. HB1366, a 2025 bill to create a state income tax credit for qualified storm shelters, died in a House committee when the 2025 session adjourned.
Sources: Arkansas Division of Emergency Management; Arkansas Legislature, HB1366; FEMA, Safe Room Funding; ADEM, Community Safe Rooms; Arkansas Rural Community Grant Program application packet. Program rules change, so confirm with the agency before you count on any funding.
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