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Commissioners accept $30,000 federal hazard‑mitigation grant to update county plan
Summary
The board approved acceptance of a $30,000 hazard‑mitigation plan update grant intended to align local planning with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and to include historical site review and closer coordination with the state plan.
The Commissioners of St. Mary’s County voted unanimously on April 5 to accept a $30,000 grant to update the county’s hazard‑mitigation plan, the county’s Emergency Services director told the board.
Bob Kelly, director of Emergency Services and Technology, said the grant is a federal‑guided supplemental award intended to bring the county’s plan into alignment with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and with the state plan. He said the county’s current plan dates to May 27, 2011, and that federal guidance requires updates about every five years.
Kelly said the latest update asks local jurisdictions to include historical‑site reviews and to work more closely with the state so the statewide hazard mitigation plan properly incorporates local priorities. He noted recent projects funded through past hazard mitigation efforts, including shoreline revetments, bridge work and generators for local fire departments.
“By having that documented in the hazard mitigation plan, we’re able to more easily receive state and federal funds to help offset the cost of taking care of those problems,” Kelly said.
The grant agreement is with the Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Kelly told the commissioners the county match would be covered by emergency‑management salaries and described the award as “a funded state mandate.”
Commissioners moved to accept the MEMA memorandum of agreement for project US‑1659 and to approve a related budget amendment increasing the project budget by $30,000. The motion carried unanimously.
The board’s acceptance moves the county into the grant process and obligates staff to complete the plan update that includes the historical‑site analysis and closer integration with the statewide mitigation plan.
