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Sullivan council adopts county multi‑hazard mitigation plan to preserve federal grant eligibility
Summary
The Sullivan City Council unanimously adopted the Sullivan County Multi‑Hazard Mitigation Plan, a FEMA and Homeland Security requirement that preserves eligibility for federal disaster grant funding; EMA Director Jimmy Pirtle urged adoption at the meeting.
Sullivan — The Sullivan City Council voted to adopt the Sullivan County Multi‑Hazard Mitigation Plan on a resolution read and approved during the council meeting. EMA Director Jimmy Pirtle told the council the five‑year plan documents local hazards and mitigation steps and is required by FEMA and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to maintain eligibility for federal mitigation grants.
"It is a requirement by FEMA and by Homeland Security that we gotta do it every 5 years," EMA Director Jimmy Pirtle said, urging adoption to preserve access to recovery and mitigation funding after disasters. Pirtle described the plan as a catalog of local hazard history — including the recent tornado — and recommended steps the city and county can take to reduce future risk.
Council members read the resolution by title and voted to adopt the plan. The chair said the city will retain a signed copy and make the plan available to the public; Pirtle said copies are also being kept at the courthouse and that digital versions will be provided to local offices. Adoption places the city and participating towns in compliance with FEMA requirements and is a precondition for many federal hazard‑mitigation grants.
Pirtle told the council the county and towns participate in the plan development and that the plan contains historical incident records, current hazard assessments and recommended mitigation actions. He offered to provide hard copies and a thumb drive of the plan to city staff and said he would send finalized materials to FEMA.
The council’s adoption follows the county process and Board of Works approvals discussed by staff. The resolution caption in the meeting materials is titled "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF [SULLIVAN] ADOPTING THE SULLIVAN COUNTY MULTI‑HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 2026" and was presented to the council for signature. Council members voted aye when the resolution was put before them; the chair and staff arranged for signatures after the vote.
Next steps: The council and EMA director indicated they will post the plan on the city's website and distribute hard and electronic copies to participating jurisdictions and the courthouse for public inspection. The resolution and plan adoption maintain the city's standing for future FEMA‑administered mitigation funding.
