Oscar Castillo
The Rider
City of Brownsville officials Ray Arellano, Sports Park superintendent (from left); Charlie Cabler, city manager; Odee Leal, Office of Emergency Management director; Marina Zolezzi, Office of Grant Management director; Edgar Garcia, Office of Grant Management assistant director; and Julia Lash, Office of Grant Management program manager cut the ribbon inaugurating the FEMA Safe Room last Saturday on the Brownsville Sports Park. The project was funded in part by the Community Development Block Grant and the Federal Emergency Management Agency through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, according to a news release. The safe room was built with a dual purpose to provide protection to residents from tornados and hurricanes, and serve as a gymnasium to the community. After the inauguration, the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, a basketball team in the NBA Development League, held an exhibition practice free of charge.
