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Cusseta–Chattahoochee County adopts FEMA‑aligned hazard mitigation plan to secure reimbursement eligibility
Summary
The commission unanimously adopted the Cusseta–Chattahoochee County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2024, aligning local mitigation priorities with FEMA requirements so the county can pursue Hazard Mitigation Grant Program reimbursements through GEMA.
The Commission of the Unified Government of Cusseta–Chattahoochee County on Aug. 5 adopted the Cusseta–Chattahoochee County Hazard Mitigation Plan 2024, a pre‑disaster strategy the county says is required to be eligible for federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding.
Commissioner Timothy Biddle moved to amend the agenda to add the plan so the county could seek GEMA review and reimbursement; Commissioner Jason Frost seconded the motion and the board voted unanimously to add and then approve the plan. Chairman Charles Coffey signed the resolution adopting the plan.
County Manager Thomas Weaver told commissioners the adoption is a necessary step to pursue FEMA funding for mitigation projects. The plan’s executive summary states it was prepared in accordance with FEMA regulations at 44 CFR 201.6, identifies nine natural hazards and four technological or man‑made hazards, and lists 79 mitigation strategies — 27 of them new — to reduce future damage and support grant applications.
The plan highlights actions such as maintaining National Flood Insurance Program compliance, installing outdoor warning sirens, purchasing portable generators for water utilities, building a tornado shelter for mobile home parks, and performing vulnerability assessments for critical facilities. The committee that updated the plan included 21 local representatives and partners from the school district and other organizations.
Adoption makes the county eligible to apply for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program reimbursements through the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA) and strengthens justification for federally funded mitigation projects, the resolution states. The plan will be updated every five years.
Next steps noted by the commission include coordinating specific mitigation projects with staff and pursuing grant applications supported by the newly adopted plan.
