The County has received approval for the Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan from the Georgia Emergency Management Agency (GEMA). As part of the final approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the City is required to adopt it by resolution.

Local participation in a Hazard Mitigation Plan is required by the Federal government in order to be eligible for post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant funding. Additionally, it is required for other mitigation grants.

The purpose of the Chatham County Multi-Jurisdictional Pre-Disaster Hazard Mitigation Plan is to identify, assess, and mitigate hazard risk to better protect the people and property within Chatham County from the effects of natural and human-caused hazards. This plan documents progress on existing hazard mitigation planning efforts, updates the previous plan to reflect current conditions in the planning area including relevant hazards and vulnerabilities, increases public education and awareness about the plan and planning process, maintains grant eligibility for participating jurisdictions, maintains compliance with state and federal requirements for local hazard mitigation plans, and identifies and outlines strategies the County and participating jurisdictions will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resiliency.

A copy of the plan is located at:

https://cccdn.blob.core.windows.net/cdn/Files/CEMA/Chatham%20County%20Multi-Jurisdictional%20Pre-Disaster%20Hazard%20Mitigation%20Plan_opt.pdf

The impact of the action demonstrates the City's commitment to developing a resilient community by identifying not only our hazards but projects to lessen or eliminate those hazards. The plan illustrates the City's progress to reducing the risks in our community.

There is no cost related to adopting the plan. However, there is typically a 25% match requirement for most mitigation grants.

This item assists in accomplishing the City’s goal of Public Safety and adds value to the residents feeling safe in their neighborhoods by allowing the City to identify risks, develop projects to address those risks and position itself for funding as it becomes available.

City departments have been collaborating on project development and securing grant funding. These investments will allow the City to strengthen service delivery prior to, during and after a disaster.

The City is not guaranteed to receive FEMA mitigation funding after a disaster.

Approval