Creating a Quality Hazard Mitigation Plan Friday, May 19
Our Mission To reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters by assisting Texas cities, counties and state agencies in creating FEMA approved hazard mitigation plans.
Overview 1) What is Hazard Mitigation 2) Why do you need a HMP? 3) Common Misperceptions 4) Common Issues 5) Best Practices 6) Resources
1) What Is Hazard Mitigation? Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long term risk to human life and property from hazards. MITIGATION: Elevated Home by the Water MITIGATION: Property Acquisition PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE: Purchase of Police Command Vehicle
2) Why do you need a HMP? 15% Disaster Annual Budget TWDB Flood
3) Common Misperceptions A. Crossing County Boarders B. Stakeholders vs. Participants C. 2 County Rule D. Eligibility E. All Actions Required In Plan
A. Crossing County Boarders The jurisdiction must be a part of the county plan in which they are located. FALSE Cities, Independent School Districts and other special districts can collaborate and be a part of any plan regardless of the county were they reside.
B. Stakeholder vs. Participant Stakeholders 1. Local and Regional Agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities; 2. Agencies that have the authority to regulate development 3. Neighboring Communities City Participant ISD District Multiple Jurisdictions Town County Each must meet all requirements Eligible for grant funding once plan APPROVED
C. 2 County Rule 2 counties maximum per plan. FALSE The state does not encourage more than 4 county wide plans because they tend to become unmanageable, however it depends on the jurisdictions population. We prefer to limit the number of jurisdictions to 20.
D. Eligibility As long as my plan is submitted to the State I'm eligible for Grant Funding. FALSE In order to receive grant funding you must have an Approved HMP. The state reviews the plans but they must be approved by FEMA. Each of the plan participants (jurisdictions) must also adopt the plan.
E. All Actions Required In Plan I can only receive grant funding for actions written in the Approved HMP. FALSE As long as the hazard that the action is addressing is profiled in your plan, you can apply for project funding.
4) Common Issues A. Planning Grants Expiring B. State Reviews Take Time C. Interpreting CFR Requirements
A) Planning Grants Expiring Plan project not meeting Period of Performance. Extensions are limited. Plans must be approved by FEMA for the project to be considered complete.
B) State Reviews Take Time 3 planners cover the entire State. Other duties: G318 Local Mitigation Planning Workshop Partnering with other mitigation agencies Conferences and Technical Assistance. Multijurisdictional plans have many thousands of requirements to check.
C) Interpreting CFR Requirements G-318 Local Hazard Mitigation Workshop State Consultant Locals RISK ASSESSMENT FEMA Accurate, Current, Relevant. Write Hazard Mitigation Plan
5) Best Practices A.Collaboration B.FEMA Verbiage C.Fact Check Consultant D.Start Early
A) Collaboration BUILD State GUIDE Consultants Locals FEED
B) FEMA Verbiage Use the same words and terms as written in the requirements of the Review Guide. The communities process to integrate the data, information, and hazard mitigation goals and actions in other planning mechanisms is described below: (from C6.a)
C) Fact Check Consultant Question claims and sells pitches. Ask for references and call them. Have they written a recently approved Texas HMP?
It can take up to two years to develop a mitigation plan. Apply for grants early especially for plan updates. Plan updates should start at least 2 years prior to expiration. D) Start Early
RESOURCES Texas Division of Emergency Management - Mitigation http://www.txdps.state.tx.us/dem/mitigation/index.htm Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (FEMA) https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/31598 Hazard Mitigation Planning Resources (FEMA) https://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-planning-resources#2 Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (FEMA) https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/23194 Mitigation Ideas (FEMA) https://www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/30627
G-318 Local Hazard Mitigation Workshop www.preparingtexas.gov Courses Currently Being Offered In Harris County: June 27-28 Orange County: July 27-28 Wichita County: October 24-25 August and September are open. If you want to host a class please contact us. This is at no cost to the host or students. Required course for FEMA APDS certification.
Mitigation Planning Staff Raymond Mejia Planning Team Lead Raymond.Mejia@dps.texas.gov (512) 438-6519 Betty Rogers, Regions 4 & 6 Mitigation Planner Betty.Rogers@dps.texas.gov (512) 424-7113 Ivy Daley, Regions 1 & 6 Mitigation Planner Ivy.daley@dps.texas.gov (512)-424-2565 Lorena Reyes, Regions 2 & 3 Mitigation Planner Lorena.reyes@dps.texas.gov (512) 377-0043