As part of its mission to protect lives, property and the future, the
Lower Loup Natural Resources District has started work on an update
to its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). Hazard mitigation plans, like
the one approved for the LLNRD in 2012, identify where
vulnerabilities to natural disasters such as flood, drought,
earthquake, wildfire, winter storm, tornado/high wind storm, or dam
failure might exist. The plan covers the NRD as well as participating
communities, counties, or districts. It sets goals, establishes
mitigation alternatives, and prioritizes projects which may alleviate
potential damages to property and provide protection when future
disasters occur.
Participation
in the HMP makes each entity eligible for up to a 75% cost-share for
a wide variety of projects listed in the plan. Hazard mitigation
plans are required to be updated on a five-year cycle and the LLNRDs
HMP will expire in 2017. Each potential participant in the plan will
receive an invitation to take part in the update in the coming weeks.
Hazard
mitigation plans are a requirement of the Disaster Mitigation Act of
2000 and are administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
A hazard mitigation plan is a publicly-guided document and the
representatives of each community, county, or district will be able
to offer input.
This
planning effort is being guided by a team consisting of
representatives from the NRD; county emergency management; Nebraska
Department of Natural Resources (NDNR); and the Nebraska Emergency
Management Agency (NEMA). Public input will be gathered throughout
the duration of the plan development through online tools and public
meetings. All communities, counties, school districts, and taxing
authorities within the NRD are eligible to participate.
For
every $1 spent on hazard mitigation, $4 in post-storm cleanup and
rebuilding is saved, according to the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA). Proactive hazard mitigation planning allows a
community to take actions to reduce or eliminate threats from natural
and man-made disasters.
The
NRD has hired JEO Consulting Group, Inc. (JEO) to assist with the
plan development over the next 12 to 18 months. This hazard
mitigation plan update is funded by a FEMA planning grant. The cost
is shared 75% through federal funding and 25% through a local match.
For this plan update, the NRD is providing the 25% local match.
