SPAG South Plains Safe Room Rebate

The South Plains Association of Governments runs the SPAG Regional Safe Room Rebate, which reimburses South Plains homeowners for a portion of the cost of installing a FEMA-compliant storm shelter. The program is active for 2026. This page walks through who qualifies, how much the rebate covers, how the application works, and what documentation the homeowner needs.

Free quote line, answered 24/7: (806) 603-3892

Program basics

• Coverage: 50% of installed cost of a FEMA P-320-compliant storm shelter.
• Cap: $3,000 per rebate.
• Eligibility: homeowner-occupied residence, FEMA-compliant construction, property not inside a mapped flood hazard area.
• Geography: all 15 South Plains counties (see below).
• Structure: first-come, first-served, subject to annual fund availability.
• Administered by: South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG), 6811 Indiana Ave, Lubbock TX 79105. Phone: (806) 762-8721.

Confirm the current funding and application window with SPAG before you schedule. In prior program years the fund allocation has been drawn down by mid-summer, so applications filed earlier in the calendar have a materially higher probability of reimbursement.

Counties covered

The rebate applies to owner-occupied homes in all 15 counties of the South Plains Association of Governments service area:

Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry, and Yoakum.

If you're in Lubbock County (Lubbock, Wolfforth, Shallowater, and Slaton), Hockley County (Levelland), Hale County (Plainview), Terry County (Brownfield), or any of the other South Plains counties in the list, you're inside the program area.

Who qualifies

Four qualifying conditions have to all be true at the time of application:

1. Homeowner-occupied. The property must be the owner's primary residence. Rentals, second homes, and investment properties are not eligible for this program. Proof is typically a deed, tax record, or driver's license address.
2. FEMA-compliant construction. The shelter must meet FEMA P-320 (6th edition, April 2025). The manufacturer compliance letter and the installer certification satisfy this requirement. See the FEMA compliance page for what those documents look like.
3. Not in a flood hazard area. Properties inside a mapped FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA) are not eligible. Most South Plains properties are not in a SFHA; homes near Yellow House Draw and portions of the canyon rim may need to be checked against the current FEMA flood map.
4. Within program funding. The program is first-come first-served. Applications filed after fund exhaustion are held for the next program cycle if SPAG continues the program.

How much the rebate is worth

The rebate is 50% of installed cost, capped at $3,000. Two examples:

• $5,500 install. 50% is $2,750 (under cap). Rebate pays $2,750.
• $9,000 install. 50% is $4,500 (over cap). Rebate pays the $3,000 max; $6,000 out-of-pocket.

For above-ground shelters in the typical $4,000 to $8,000 range, the rebate covers one-third to one-half of total. For in-ground shelters in the $6,000 to $15,000 range, the rebate offsets a fixed $3,000.

How to apply

There are two paths, and both work. Most homeowners let the installer handle the paperwork.

Path 1: Installer files on your behalf. Most FEMA-P-320-compliant installers in the South Plains are familiar with the SPAG paperwork and file the application as part of the standard install closeout. The homeowner signs the application; the installer assembles the compliance packet and submits it.

Path 2: Homeowner files directly with SPAG. Call SPAG at (806) 762-8721 or visit their office at 6811 Indiana Ave, Lubbock TX 79105. SPAG will provide the current application form and the required documentation checklist.

Timing note. The typical structure is a reimbursement after installation — the homeowner pays the installer, then submits the rebate application, then SPAG reimburses up to $3,000. Some homeowners contact SPAG before scheduling install to confirm program status and reserve their place in the queue. Ask the installer or call SPAG about current-year pre-application procedures.

Documentation the homeowner needs

The rebate application submission typically includes:

• Proof of homeowner-occupancy at the property address (deed, tax record, or driver's license address).
• Signed installation invoice showing the installed cost of the shelter.
• FEMA P-320 compliance letter from the shelter manufacturer.
• Installer certification attesting the shelter was installed per the engineered anchor specification.
• Flood hazard attestation — a signed statement that the property is not inside a mapped SFHA.
• Photographs of the installed shelter as required by SPAG (typically an exterior view and an interior view with the door open).

The installer's compliance packet is designed to include most of this documentation. The homeowner supplies the occupancy proof and signs the application.

Reimbursement timing

Historic turnaround from complete application submission to rebate payment has run four to twelve weeks depending on fund cycle and application volume. Peak-spring submissions typically take longer than fall submissions.

How the SPAG program is administered

The rebate is administered regionally by the South Plains Association of Governments, the council of governments for the fifteen-county South Plains centered on Lubbock. Key facts:

• SPAG Regional Safe Room Rebate.
• Administered by the South Plains Association of Governments (SPAG), 6811 Indiana Ave, Lubbock. Phone (806) 762-8721.
• 50% of installed cost, capped at $3,000 per rebate.
• 15 South Plains counties centered on Lubbock — Bailey, Cochran, Crosby, Dickens, Floyd, Garza, Hale, Hockley, King, Lamb, Lubbock, Lynn, Motley, Terry, and Yoakum.
• Confirm current funding and the application window with SPAG before you schedule.
• Application URL: spag.org/safe-room-rebate-program-form/

Installers who work across the South Plains are familiar with the SPAG paperwork and file it as part of the standard install closeout.

Stacking with the insurance discount

The rebate is not the only cost offset. Sending the FEMA compliance letter to your homeowners carrier typically produces a discount of $100 to $250 per year, or up to 20% off the wind-and-hail portion of your premium. Over the life of the shelter, that adds up to another meaningful share of the install cost.