Lenexa adopts Region L Hazard Mitigation Plan to qualify for federal mitigation grants

The Lenexa City Council adopted the Region L (Johnson, Leavenworth and Wyandotte counties) multi‑jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan, a five‑year document that makes the city eligible for specific federal mitigation grants and identifies local hazard‑reduction actions.

Susan (staff) told the council the plan underpins emergency planning and grants eligibility, and that adopting the plan is required to pursue federal mitigation funding. She said the plan increases Lenexa’s mitigation action items from four (in the 2020 plan) to 18 actions for the 2024–2029 period and noted one prior action from 2020 had been completed.

Susan outlined federal grant programs tied to the plan, saying it helps make the city eligible for four FEMA grant programs including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and flood mitigation assistance; she cited a benefit estimate (from cited studies) that every dollar spent on mitigation can save about six dollars in recovery costs. Councilmembers asked questions about specific hazard scenarios: Mark asked whether the plan covers incidents tied to lithium‑battery facilities such as the De Soto battery plant; staff said De Soto’s fire district and Johnson County partners are part of regional planning and that the city could seek to add specific mitigation projects to the plan and pursue grant funding when available. Councilmembers also discussed mass notification and public education; staff noted the county’s Notify JOCO (Everbridge) mass notification system and that roughly 10–11% of Lenexa residents were signed up, and staff said IPAWS alerts could be used for wide geographic messaging.

Councilmember Chelsea moved and Councilmember Mark seconded a motion to adopt the Region L Hazard Mitigation Plan; the motion passed on a voice vote.