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Director Powell outlines five-year hazard mitigation plan update required for federal disaster funding
Summary
Mark Powell told commissioners the county must update its multi-hazard mitigation plan every five years to remain eligible for federal post-disaster recovery funds; the plan is being drafted as a division plan by the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and public comment is open online and via forms left at the meeting.
Mark Powell presented the county's 2026 hazard mitigation plan update and explained why the five-year refresh is required to maintain eligibility for federal disaster recovery funding.
"Mitigation is an important word for us because it just means the act of reducing or minimizing the severity or impact of something harmful," Powell (speaker 5) told the commission, adding that the plan documents risks such as tornadoes, high winds, drought and floods and records historical event data used for prioritization. Powell said the plan is contracted to the Southeast Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission and that both the old and pending drafts are available on the commission's website along with comment surveys and paper comment forms left at the meeting.
Powell emphasized inclusion of all local governments in Houston County -- city, county, schools and municipalities -- so jurisdictions remain eligible to receive federal disaster recovery funds. He described priority ranking boards and poster exhibits that summarize local hazard priorities and invited public review and feedback before final adoption.
Commissioners had no objections to placing the plan update item on the agenda for formal consideration and staff thanked the commission for supporting the outreach and review process.
