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Temple staff seeks council adoption of updated Bell County hazard mitigation plan to keep grant eligibility
Summary
City staff presented a revised Bell County hazard mitigation plan and asked the council to adopt it so the city can remain eligible for hazard-mitigation grant funding; staff detailed new hazards, 13 action items, and next steps for FEMA review.
Temple emergency-management staff presented an updated Bell County Hazard Mitigation Plan during the City Council workshop Thursday and asked the council to adopt the plan for submission to FEMA, saying adoption is needed to pursue several federal mitigation grants.
The update, part of the Central Texas Council of Governments process covering Bell County, incorporates new hazards and expands local action items. Jennifer, staff member (emergency management), said, “If we want to pursue grant funding for hazard mitigation, we have to have this plan in place.” She told the council the previous plan dated from 2018 and the region must keep the plan current to qualify for mitigation grant programs.
Adoption matters because multiple federal grant streams require a current hazard mitigation plan. Jennifer told the council the plan includes 13 action items for the city, up from five in 2018, and that staff incorporated public workshops and a community survey into the draft. She said FEMA has been reviewing the Bell County plan and that the local plan portion has been with FEMA for about six months.
Staff described funding sources the plan would allow the city to pursue, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and the Fire Management Assistance Grant. Jennifer also said the plan helps the city target mitigation projects that can reduce future repair and recovery costs; she cited FEMA guidance that “for every dollar that we spend” on mitigation, “we save an average of $6.”
Members asked about the city’s recovery work after last year’s tornadoes; Jennifer said about 24% of city infrastructure repairs have been completed and described coordination steps being taken with insurance and FEMA. Council members pressed whether the city must wait for FEMA approval before repairs; Jennifer replied emergency repairs can proceed immediately but cautioned documentation and compliance are needed where FEMA or historical/EPA review may apply.
The staff request at the workshop was for council approval to adopt the local portion of the Bell County Hazard Mitigation Plan and submit it to FEMA for final approval so the city can use it to apply for mitigation grants. No formal council vote was taken during the workshop.
Looking ahead, staff said adoption would let the city advance grant applications for mitigation projects identified in the action plan and then proceed to FEMA for the agency’s final review and approval.
