Mitigation is one of the four phases of the Emergency Management cycle and differs from Preparedness, Response, and Recovery:
Well planned mitigation helps reduce the loss of life and property from hazards. It is also a wise use of public funds. A 2006 study by the Institute for Building Science found that $4 was saved in post-disaster response and recovery for every $1 spent on pre-disaster mitigation; this figure increases to $9 to $1 for flooding mitigation.
For helpful websites connected with Hazard Mitigation, click here.
Responding to and mitigating for natural disasters has been a subject of increasing focus for the federal government in the past decades. In 2003, a “current and approved” local hazard mitigation plan became a FEMA eligibility requirement for pre-disaster mitigation grants and the mitigation portion of post-disaster grant funds (i.e. after a Presidential Disaster Declaration).
Other federal agencies, such as HUD and the EPA, are beginning to tie some grant programs to being part of an approved local hazard mitigation plan – this will probably be an increasing trend in the future.
For information on FEMA Mitigation Grant Programs, click here.
The Mid-MO RPC is currently leading the mandated 5-year update of the hazard mitigation plan for each county in the region, under contract from the MO State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA). This planning effort is funded through FEMA with a 25% match requirement for each county.
These plans are multi-jurisdictional in that many local governments, including school districts and special districts, within each county are active participants in the plans; this makes those local governments eligible to apply for FEMA hazard mitigation grant funds.
The hazard mitigation planning process takes about 8 months to complete and includes representatives from all of the participating jurisdictions. After approval of the updated plan, participating jurisdictions must adopt the plan as their hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible to apply for mitigation grants.
Boone County -The update of the Boone County Hazard Mitigation Plan received final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on November 8, 2010. The plan is now “current and approved” until the new expiration date of November 8, 2015.
The following “Participating Jurisdictions” in the plan are eligible to apply for FEMA mitigation grant funds to lessen the impact of natural hazards in their communities: Boone County, Ashland, Centralia, Columbia, Hallsville, Hartsburg, Rocheport, Sturgeon, Centralia R-VI School District, Columbia Public Schools, Southern Boone School District, Sturgeon R-V School District, Stephens College, and the University of Missouri.
Cole County – The update of the Cole County/Jefferson City Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan received final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on November 9, 2011. The plan is now “current and approved” until the new expiration date of November 9, 2016.
The following “Participating Jurisdictions” in the plan are eligible to apply for FEMA mitigation grant funds to lessen the impact of natural hazards in their communities: Cole County, Jefferson City, Lohman, Russellville, St. Martins, St. Thomas, Taos, Wardsville, Cole County R-V School District, Jefferson City Public School District, and Lincoln University.
Callaway, Cole, Howard, and Moniteau Counties – The final versions of these plans have been submitted to SEMA and FEMA for approval as of November 2011.
All hazard mitigation plans and drafts of the updates in progress can be reviewed in the Reports Library.
Delay in FEMA funding for the update process has resulted in the expiration of many plans in Missouri. Due to the nationwide scope of this problem, provision has been made for jurisdictions who want to apply for FEMA mitigation grants but have an expired plan. The staff at the SEMA are well aware of this issue and will work with jurisdictions as needed.
(Updated 7/22/2011)