Hattiesburg, Mississippi – On Friday, January 24, the Hattiesburg City Council voted unanimously to accept a $3.62 million bid from MitchCo Construction to rebuild Fire Station #2 on Edwards Street. This decision marks the culmination of an eight-year effort to secure funding and move forward with rebuilding the station after its destruction by the January 21, 2017, tornado.

“We are glad to have a bid accepted for the new Fire Station 2.” said Mayor Toby Barker. “This has been an eight-year battle with FEMA, parts of which still continue. I appreciate the work of CAO Ann Jones, City Clerk Kermas Eaton, City Attorney Randy Pope as well as numerous consultants, attorneys and congressional advocates, for their efforts in navigating an endless maze of federal bureaucracy. I’m also grateful for the patience of Hattiesburg’s Station 2 firefighters, who have served selflessly out of a temporary home since the 2017 tornado. I know they will continue to provide the best in emergency response to those citizens and neighborhoods.”

The station, originally built on Arledge Street in the 1960s, was destroyed in the EF-3 tornado that devastated the eastern and southern parts of the city. FEMA initially determined the station eligible for replacement under the 50% rule but obligated only $259,312, far below the funding needed to replace the station in compliance with current fire station construction codes. Over several years, the city pursued multiple appeals and arbitration to secure adequate funding to meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhoods and ensure safety for first responders.

Due to modern building codes and the need for a larger 5,900-square-foot facility, the original site on Arledge Street was deemed unsuitable for reconstruction. The new station will be built at the intersection of Edwards Street and Tuscan Avenue, which can better accommodate the expanded facility without requiring costly land acquisition or infrastructure changes. An engineering study found that rebuilding at the original site would have required the purchase of additional property, the relocation of utilities and the widening of Claiborne Avenue, significantly increasing the cost.

Construction is expected to begin this spring.

Timeline of Fire Station #2 Rebuilding Process

• January 21, 2017: Fire Station #2 is destroyed by the EF-3 tornado that struck Hattiesburg.
• March 13, 2017: FEMA determines the station meets the 50% rule for replacement.
• January 11, 2019: FEMA obligates $259,312 for replacement, which falls far short of the estimated $2.5 million needed.
• March 6, 2019 – November 2, 2020: The city files multiple appeals with FEMA, citing omissions in cost calculations and the need for a larger station to meet modern construction codes. FEMA denies each appeal.
• December 31, 2020: The city files a request for arbitration with the United States Civilian Board of Contract Appeals.
• July 29, 2021: The arbitration panel rules in favor of the city, directing FEMA to provide funding for a 5,900-square-foot replacement facility.
• October 21, 2021 – August 15, 2022: FEMA issues multiple requests for information (RFIs), requiring cost comparisons and documentation regarding construction at both the original and proposed new site.
• July 29, 2022: The city provides evidence that the original site on Arledge Street cannot accommodate the new facility without significant additional costs, including land acquisition, utility relocation, and street widening.
• February 27, 2023 – March 17, 2023: The city provides additional information requested by FEMA to support replacement funding.
• September 18, 2024: FEMA partially approves the city’s appeal, increasing obligated funding to $2,284,997.
• November 15, 2024: The city files a second appeal with FEMA, seeking the remaining $1.57 million to fully fund replacement costs.
• January 21, 2025: FEMA denies the city’s request for a meeting to discuss the second appeal.
• January 23, 2025: The City of Hattiesburg accepts a $3.62 million bid from MitchCo Construction for the project.
  
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