What is the purpose for Hazard Mitigation Plan?

GEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Protecting the health safety and welfare of residents in our community is a critical task for public officials. Natural disasters cost billions of dollars annually throughout the United States. The loss of life, injury, and damage to homes and businesses causes incalculable hardships and emotional suffering. One way we can help our community become more disaster-resistant is by planning for disasters before they occur. A proven, successful tool to help in that effort is through Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Planning. Hazard Mitigation Planning is the process of determining how to reduce or eliminate risk of loss of life and property damage resulting from natural or human-caused hazards in advance of the event. Our community can become a safer place to live, work, and do business.

We now have an opportunity to participate in the Hazard Mitigation Program to update our old PMD Plan. This opportunity is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The Program will begin with a local kick-off meeting to be held on September 3, 2006 at the Union County Courthouse in the Jury Assembly Room. By our participation in this planning process and update of our Hazard Mitigation Plan, we will continue to meet Federal guidelines for future disaster funding. An approval Hazard Mitigation Plan will also allow our community to compete favorable for other funding opportunities.

The kick-off meeting will provide participants with an overview of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Program and will begin the process of updating our plan. This invitation is in accordance with FEMA requirements and we are inviting the public.

If you have any questions or comments regarding Hazard Mitigation, please feel free to call our office, 706-439-6091, or email ucema@uniongov.com.