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Smithville reviews regional hazard mitigation plan; FEMA eligibility cited as reason to adopt
Summary
Staff presented the regional hazard mitigation plan update required by FEMA, reviewed primary hazards and mitigation goals, and told the council the plan will be brought back for formal approval next month to preserve FEMA grant eligibility.
At a Smithville work session, Myers, a city staff member, summarized the regional hazard mitigation plan update and said the plan is a required document for FEMA grant eligibility under the Disaster Mitigation Act.
Myers said the regional plan is updated on a five‑year cycle; the last regional update occurred in 2020. The plan development involved local communities, school districts, Mid‑America Regional Council (MARC) staff and FEMA, and it identifies primary hazards for the region and mitigation strategies intended to reduce future disaster impacts.
“[The plan] is required for FEMA grant eligibility,” Myers said, noting examples of eligible projects such as buyouts for frequently flooded properties and tornado safe rooms.
What the plan highlights - Primary hazards: Myers said the plan identified five primary hazards with flooding described as the most common and most costly, followed by severe thunderstorms and winter weather. - Mitigation goals: The plan’s goals include protecting lives, preserving critical infrastructure and improving community resilience. Examples cited as ongoing or completed actions included public alerting and warning improvements, ordinances that restrict development in hazard areas, and use of parks as alternate facilities in some master plans. - Projects and timing: Myers said some items are already in the city’s capital improvement plan (CIP), including an outdoor tornado siren upgrade currently scheduled for 2027; staff will continue to consider siren coverage for parks such as Smiths Fork Park as designs progress.
Board members asked about implementation timelines and about training and administrative requirements tied to FEMA funding. One board member asked how many people had completed required NIMS (National Incident Management System) training. Myers said the police clerk had begun sending training notifications to city departments and that departments with turnover are updating training records.
The transcript records Mark requesting that communities adopt the updated plan in the following month; Myers said staff planned to bring the plan for approval at the next meeting unless the council directs otherwise.
Why it matters: Adopting and maintaining the hazard mitigation plan keeps Smithville eligible for FEMA mitigation grants that fund projects to reduce future disaster losses. FEMA reviews the plan, provides feedback and requires participating jurisdictions to update the plan every five years to stay eligible.
Next steps: Staff will circulate the plan link for review, bring the plan back to the council for approval at the next meeting (staff cited April 1 as the planned submission for approval), and continue coordination with regional partners and FEMA.
