WASHINGTON D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark Pryor today introduced legislation to make safe rooms and storm shelters a more affordable option for Arkansas homeowners.

The Storm Shelter Affordability Act of 2014 provides a federal tax credit of up to $1,000 for homeowners installing safe rooms or storm shelters in high-risk tornado areas like Arkansas. This legislation complements current state safe room rebate programs in Arkansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma and Ohio by implementing a federal tax credit that can be used in addition to any state rebate program.

“The April storms that hit Arkansas proved once again that storm shelters and safe rooms save lives. But for too many families, this level of protection is cost-prohibitive,” Pryor said.  “My bill reduces the cost to homeowners of storm shelters by up to a third, making it easier to save lives when disaster strikes.”

According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, a 10-square-foot residential safe room has an average cost of $3,000. The tax credit created in this legislation combined with Arkansas’ rebate program would reduce the cost of installing shelters by up to $2,000.