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Council approves joint Pawtucket-Central Falls 2024 hazard mitigation plan, enabling FEMA grant eligibility
Summary
The Pawtucket City Council voted to adopt the 2024 Pawtucket-Central Falls Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a five-year plan reviewed and approved by Rhode Island EMA and FEMA that is required to make the cities eligible for federal mitigation grants under 44 CFR (Stafford Act).
The Pawtucket City Council voted to approve a resolution adopting the 2024 multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan prepared jointly with the City of Central Falls.
City staff presented the plan as a five-year hazard mitigation strategy developed through public meetings, charrettes and online outreach. The plan identifies hazards, notes deficiencies, and outlines projects eligible for federal hazard-mitigation grants. According to the presenters, Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency and FEMA reviewed and approved the plan; adoption by both city councils is the final local step required to preserve eligibility for mitigation grant programs tied to 44 CFR and the Stafford Act.
During the public hearing the council asked whether the Central Falls council had already voted; staff said Central Falls likely had already acted. The council voted on the resolution by roll call and the transcript records the resolution as approved (roll-call vote recorded in the meeting minutes).
Why it matters: Adoption of an approved hazard mitigation plan is a required eligibility step to receive certain federal mitigation grants (e.g., post-disaster mitigation funding) and guides investment priorities for flood, drainage and other hazard-reduction projects.
What comes next: With both city councils expected to sign the plan, the two cities will remain eligible to apply for FEMA mitigation grants to address deficiencies identified in the plan.
