EMA outlines hazard mitigation plan update and FEMA grant timeline; board acknowledges EMPG award totaling $162,578

Pam Haverkost, director of the Clermont County Emergency Management Agency, told the Board of Commissioners on March 19 that the county is updating its five-year hazard mitigation plan and outlined a public-engagement timeline and grant eligibility implications.

Haverkost said the update is required by 44 C.F.R. part 201 and the Robert T. Stafford Act and that the existing FEMA-approved plan remains valid through June 14, 2025. She advised that although plan approval may extend past that date, jurisdictions may still apply for mitigation grants while an update is underway. "The purpose of the plan is to protect lives and property through the identification of hazards that could affect us and the development of mitigation strategies," she said.

Haverkost described the consultant contract with JH Consulting (signed January 9) and said the county held a kickoff meeting March 5 with about 45 attendees representing more than 30 local, county and state agencies. She outlined the next steps: data collection from townships and municipalities (critical infrastructure lists and vulnerability assessments), a public meeting anticipated in June to identify mitigation strategies, distribution of a draft plan for a 30-day public comment period in September and submission to FEMA for review with a target for final county adoption in November or early December 2025. She said cities and villages have one year after county adoption to formally adopt the plan if they wish to be included.

Separately, the board acknowledged in the agenda the execution and submittal of Emergency Management Performance Grant agreement FY24EMPG-13 for $81,289 with a required local match of $81,289 for a total EMPG program budget of $162,578 (performance period 10/01/2023 through 12/31/2025). The board recorded an affirmative roll-call vote on the EMPG item.

Haverkost asked for broad public participation in forthcoming hazard-prioritization and critical-infrastructure surveys and said the draft plan will be posted at all 10 county library branches with both electronic and paper comment options. She stressed that the plan drives emergency operations planning, grant eligibility and long-term mitigation priorities.

Timeline highlights presented by Haverkost: - Kickoff meeting: March 5, 2025 (45 attendees) - Public meeting to identify mitigation strategies: anticipated June 2025 - Draft plan distribution and 30-day comment period: September 2025 - Target for county adoption and submission to FEMA: November/early December 2025

The board recorded the EMPG acknowledgment by roll call (Commissioner Bachelor Yes; Commissioner Corcoran Yes; Commissioner Painter Yes). Haverkost said she will provide meeting notes, surveys and draft materials on the EMA mitigation-plan web page and work with township and municipal partners to secure sign-offs where required.