Hazard Mitigation

With the escalation of natural hazard events throughout the region, hazard mitigation has become a prominent topic for communities.  Starting in 2003, the Green River Area Development District assisted the region with the development of a multi-hazard, multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan.  All GRADD cities and counties adopted the GRADD Hazard Mitigation Plan, which received formal Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval in January 2006.  The adoption of a FEMA-approved plan is a critical component in establishing a community’s eligibility for funding through FEMA’s hazard mitigation grant programs.


HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN UPDATE
FEMA requires a five-year update of all local and multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plans.  The current GRADD Hazard Mitigation Plan is scheduled to expire in January of 2011, and plan expiration prior to the completion of a full update could jeopardize GRADD communities' eligibility for FEMA hazard mitigation grant program funding.  To avoid this and to start the plan update process, GRADD secured a Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant to fund the preparation of the five-year plan update.
>>What is the timeline for this process?









>>Previous Version (5/26/2010) of Section 3.4: MITIGATION STRATEGY




GRADD HAZARD MITIGATION COUNCIL
The GRADD Hazard Mitigation Council membership consists of the judge/executive of each GRADD county (or his/her designated representative) and the mayor of each GRADD city (or his/her designated representative).  The council directs and oversees the hazard mitigation planning process in the region and will meet regularly during the five-year update of the GRADD Hazard Mitigation Plan.  Public and private stakeholders throughout the region are welcome and encouraged to participate in all council meetings and events.
>>Member Designation Form
>>Volunteer Service Form


UPCOMING EVENTS
The GRADD Hazard Mitigation Council will meet on Friday, July 30, at 2:00 p.m. at the GRADD Office in Owensboro.
>>View meeting agenda


COUNCIL UPDATES
The GRADD Hazard Mitigation Council met on May 3, 2010 at the GRADD office.
>>View meeting agenda
>>View meeting materials

To view information from past GRADD Hazard Mitigation Council meetings, please click the links below:
>>11/5/09 Kickoff Meeting Agenda
>>11/5/09 Kickoff Meeting Presentation
>>11/5/09 Kickoff Meeting Minutes

>>2/11/10 Meeting Minutes
>>2/11/10 Work Session Presentation


FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
During the State Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Meeting conducted on January 6, 2010, in Frankfort, the State Hazard Mitigation Office reviewed several FEMA mitigation funding programs.
>>View Their Presentation
If you have any questions or potential projects, please contact Misty Sampson.


MITIGATION RESOURCES
An important component of hazard mitigation planning involves the dissemination of information to raise awareness and educate the citizenry.

The FEMA website offers a library of materials designed to facilitate a community's preparation for hazard events.
>>http://www.fema.gov/library/cannedSearchMostDownloaded.do

The Are You Ready? guide is an invaluable tool for individuals, families, and communities, offering specific information on what to do before, during, and after hazard events.
>>http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/index.shtm

For specific hazard types, the National Weather Service site provides several brochures and facts sheets designed for education and awareness efforts.
>>http://www.weather.gov/om/brochures.shtml
 
If your community has developed or implemented materials you would like to share with the rest of the region, please contact Misty Sampson at mistysampson@gradd.com or Pete Conrad at peteconrad@gradd.com.


PRESIDENTIAL DISASTER DECLARATIONS
Since 2000, nine (9) presidential disaster declarations have affected the GRADD region.
>>FEMA Presidential Disaster Declaration Map
>>Disaster Declaration Listing for the GRADD Region


FEEDBACK
Do you have questions regarding the plan update process?  Do you have suggestions on how to raise hazard mitigation awareness throughout the region?  Do not hesitate to contact Misty Sampson (mistysampson@gradd.com) or Pete Conrad (peteconrad@gradd.com).