The Board of Lamar County Supervisors is taking steps to bolster the safety of its emergency personnel.

The supervisors voted Monday to accept the bid of an Illinois company for the construction and delivery of two dozen tornado shelters.

The small shelters — about 8 feet by 10 feet — would hold about a dozen people, enabling crews to be dispersed at various points throughout the county to respond more quickly after a hurricane, tornado or other disaster.

The project will cost about $121,000 and be paid for through a combination of Federal Emergency Management Administration grant money and county funds.