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Board briefed on county hazard mitigation plan; FEMA funds require local resolution to participate in projects
Summary
County emergency management staff briefed the board on a FEMA-approved county hazard mitigation plan that jurisdictions must adopt to be eligible for FEMA mitigation grants. Staff said adopting the plan does not obligate the district to any project costs unless the district opts into a specific grant-funded project, where standard cost
County emergency-management staff briefed the board on the county hazard-mitigation plan and the board's role in adopting the document to preserve eligibility for FEMA hazard-mitigation funding.
A county official explained the plan is a living document required by FEMA and that jurisdictions must adopt the plan to apply for hazard-mitigation grants. "Basically, this is a FEMA approved plan that has to be in place in order to seek hazard mitigation grant funds," the presenter said. The official added that projects funded through FEMA hazard-mitigation grants typically carry a local cost share: "It's a cost share. So it's not like if we apply for a hazard mitigation grant that it's gonna be a % of the cost. It's a 25% on the local share of it," the presenter said (FEMA covers the remaining 75% in many programs, according to the briefing).
Nut graf: The board was told adopting the hazard-mitigation plan is a required step to keep grant eligibility for projects such as storm shelters or generators; however, adoption of the plan itself does not commit the school district to any project or local spending unless and until the board approves a specific grant application that includes a local match.
Board members asked whether the full mitigation plan is available; county staff said portions may be redacted for security purposes and that the plan is updated every five years. The presenter confirmed that if the district later chooses to participate in a mitigation project (for example, installing a shelter), the district would have to go through the normal grant-application process and vote on any project that requires local funds.
Ending: Staff said they would place the hazard-mitigation resolution on the board's upcoming agenda for formal adoption to preserve project eligibility; board members requested copies or summaries of the plan for review prior to final action.
