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Douglas County adopts updated hazard mitigation plan to preserve FEMA funding eligibility
Summary
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to adopt the county'wide 2024 Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, a FEMA-required document that preserves access to pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding. Commissioners asked for clarification about why cell towers are not listed as a separate eligible hazard.
The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on Thursday unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-R-23, the county'wide 2024 Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, a document required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to preserve eligibility for certain mitigation and post-disaster reimbursement programs.
Emergency Management Director Carrie Easton told the board the plan was previously before the commission in December while FEMA completed a parallel review. Easton said FEMA asked for minor edits and that the county brought the plan back after making the requested changes.
"The hazard mitigation plan is something that FEMA requires of all local jurisdictions who want to be eligible for hazard mitigation funding," Easton said. She explained the plan identifies natural hazards that qualify for pre-disaster mitigation grants and post-disaster public assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Act and the Disaster Mitigation Act.
Commissioners pressed for clarification about whether technological hazards such as cell towers are included. Commissioner Nathan Tolbert said he had received constituent inquiries about cell towers being omitted. Easton and staff explained that the Stafford Act and implementing guidance limit the mitigation plan'funding eligibility to natural hazards; the county may note technological or human-caused hazards for preparedness purposes but only projects tied to natural hazards are eligible for FEMA mitigation funding.
Easton added that even when a hazard such as fire tied to a failed structure (for example, a tower collapse causing a fire) is on the plan, FEMA maintains damage-dollar thresholds that must be met before public assistance is available.
After public comment was closed, Commissioner Tolbert moved to approve the plan; Commissioner Danny Tarkanian seconded. The board voted unanimously to adopt Resolution 2025-R-23.
The adopted plan updates development- and mitigation-priority language for Douglas County and incorporates FEMA-required wording. By adopting the plan while FEMA completes its final review, the county retains eligibility for mitigation grant programs and post-disaster reimbursement tied to qualifying natural hazards. The resolution and the plan now provide the county a documented mitigation strategy that the county can use when seeking FEMA funding for future projects.
