Newton adopts Unifour Hazard Mitigation Plan to preserve FEMA grant eligibility

Newton City Council on March 3 unanimously adopted the Unifour Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, a multi-jurisdictional update that assesses the area's vulnerability to natural hazards and lists prioritized mitigation actions. Planner Alex Fulbright told the council that FEMA has preliminarily reviewed the update and North Carolina Emergency Management approved it on Jan. 21, 2020, and that adoption keeps Newton eligible for state and federal disaster assistance and competitive pre-disaster mitigation grants.

Fulbright said the plan — prepared with consultant support from AECOM using FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant funding — evaluates risks from floods, tornadoes, high winds and winter storms and identifies proactive steps the city can take to reduce those risks. "Having a current FEMA-approved plan in place assures that Newton remains eligible for a range of state and federal disaster assistance, as well as pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant funds made available each year by FEMA on a nationally competitive basis," Fulbright said. He noted the plan describes each action item, the hazard it addresses, estimated costs and item priority, and reports the status of work completed over the past five years.

Fulbright also clarified that this Hazard Mitigation Plan focuses on evaluating and reducing natural-hazard risks and is distinct from the city's Multi-Hazard Plan, which addresses emergency response procedures during an event. Council Member Jody Dixon moved to adopt the plan sections specific to Newton; Mayor Pro Tem John Stiver seconded the motion, and the council approved it unanimously.

The resolution adopting the Unifour Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is on file in the office of the City Clerk. Adoption does not itself appropriate funds; it makes the city eligible to apply for certain competitive mitigation grants and guides future mitigation project prioritization.