Livingston Parish begins public update of hazard mitigation plan; public meeting, survey and CRS points highlighted

Chris Rippetoe, hazard mitigation program manager with the Stephenson Disaster Management Institute, told a public meeting in Livingston Parish that the session was the first public meeting to update the parish's hazard mitigation plan. “This is part of the Livingston Parish hazard mitigation plan update process. This is the very first public meeting that we're having for this process,” Rippetoe said.

The meeting, attended by parish planning‑committee members and residents, explained why a current plan matters for federal mitigation grant eligibility and flood insurance discounts under the National Flood Insurance Program's (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS). Rippetoe said the plan describes natural hazards, assesses community risk and records mitigation strategies that local governments must formally adopt for the parish to remain eligible for mitigation funding.

The plan update is primarily focused on natural hazards — the presenters said it does not cover biological, cybersecurity or most technological hazards — and will use…