* The Department of Emergency Management (DEM), in conjunction with County departments, local jurisdictions, tribal nations, and special purpose districts, completes and submits a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
* The HMP is updated every five years to reflect new and changing mitigation strategies and priorities in the County.
* The first HMP was completed in 2005 with updates in 2010, 2015, and 2020.
* The HMP seeks to reduce future loss of life and destruction of property; assess risk, identify impacts, and identify a list of projects and activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards before they occur; and identify and implement short and long-term strategies to reduce loss of life and/or alleviate personal injury and property damage
* The HMP is not a regulatory document and is not required by federal or state mandate.
* The HMP allows participating jurisdictions and agencies to compete for federal mitigation funds.
* The HMP contains 38 Countywide Action items that all County departments seek to implement as project scopes, funding, and objectives allow.
* The HMP requires an annual evaluation as to the progress of the 38 Countywide Action items.
* Completing a Hazard Mitigation Plan Progress Report also allows the County to receive credit under Section 510 of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Community Rating System (CRS).
* The National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the three goals of the CRS: Reduce flood damage to insurable property; Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP, and Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management.
* Section 510 identifies the devel...
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