County adopts hazard mitigation plan to preserve FEMA funding eligibility

The Ouray County Board unanimously adopted the county's updated multi‑hazard mitigation plan Aug. 26, completing a two‑year planning process required by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 to maintain eligibility for federal mitigation funding.

Emergency manager Glenn Mayes (presenting) told commissioners the plan incorporated input from more than 250 residents and multiple stakeholder groups through surveys, meetings and review sessions. He said the Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA completed their reviews and approval; local adoption by the county (and by other local partners) is the remaining step required to unlock federal and state hazard mitigation grants.

Adoption of the plan preserves eligibility for grants that fund wildfire mitigation, flood control, debris‑flow protection, infrastructure resilience and related preparedness activities. The plan includes a prioritized list of mitigation projects and appendices that document local risk analyses and stakeholder input.

Commissioners thanked staff and community partners for the lengthy review effort. The county will now pursue implementation and grant opportunities identified in the plan and keep mitigation actions on departmental workplans so the county can apply for project funding when it becomes available.