Oconee County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Kickoff Meeting Brian Laughlin Hazard Mitigation Planner Georgia Emergency Management Agency Office of Homeland Security GEMA WELCOME!! Please sign in on one of the attendance rosters

What is Hazard Mitigation? Defined: Any sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. -Continuous, on-going process -Pre- and post-disaster

What is Hazard Mitigation? A few examples: -Elevating homes in floodplains -Levees and floodwalls -Stronger building codes -Land use planning -Safe rooms

Why are we doing this? Long Term Goal Reduce disaster losses: –Loss of Life –Damage to Property –Economic impacts –Social impacts

Why are we doing this? Hazard Mitigation Benefits Mitigation saves money –Every $1 invested will save $4 Mitigation creates safer, more resilient communities –Break the cycle of disaster damage Mitigation speeds disaster recovery

Why are we doing this? Required for Federal Grant Eligibility Annually: –Pre-Disaster Mitigation Competitive (PDM-C) –Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Post Disaster: –Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) One of the first questions you will be asked: “Do you have a hazard mitigation plan?” Others Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K) requires a local plan to be in place for the above programs –Emphasizes a proactive approach to emergency management – prevent damages before the disaster

Hazard Mitigation Plans are required by Federal law to be updated every 5 years Oconee County’s plan approved on August 12, 2008 Oconee County’s plan expires on August 12, 2013 Why are we doing this?

What does this plan do? Identify and profile the Hazards –Tornados, floods, lightning, etc. –Requirement is natural hazards –Can also include technological, or man-made hazards Determine the Risk (Threat) –A real, quantifiable number that is based on past hazard history, or advanced statistical modeling Determine the Vulnerability –How bad could the damages get? (dollars, numbers, etc.) Develop goals & strategies to reduce long-term risks and/or vulnerabilities

How do we do this? Updating Your Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Getting Started Organize Resources –Determine who needs to be part of the process Thank you for being part of this!!! –Identify resources for information

How do we do this? Updating Your Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – The plan itself 1.Update Risk Assessment –How have the hazards changed? –Has development increased, decreased or remained the same? –Are there any changes in your critical facilities? 2.Update Goals & Objectives –What projects have been accomplished? –Are there some that have not been accomplished? Why? –Are there new and better ideas?

How do we do this? Updating Your Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – The plan itself cont’d 3.Update the Planning Process –Describe the process used to update the plan. –Who was involved? –How was each section reviewed and how was it determined if revisions were necessary? 4.Update the intended plan maintenance process –What process and criteria will be used for evaluation and monitoring?

How do we do this? Updating Your Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Follow-up Submit for GEMA/FEMA Review Adopt Plan Implement the Plan & Monitor Progress –Ongoing after local adoption and FEMA approval

Changes Planning Process –Must include two documentable opportunities for public participation during drafting stage & to comment on final draft prior to adoption Can be public hearings, website, etc. Risk Assessment –NFIP repetitive loss structures vulnerability must be described in terms of types and numbers of structures. Goals & Objectives –Must have strategy for NFIP compliance spelled out, or a specific statement of why jurisdiction is not going to participate in program

Changes New FEMA mitigation plan guidance For all plans submitted after October 1, 2012 No new regulations New interpretations of certain regulations Available online

What is my part? County Point of Contact –Submit quarterly reports on time –Submit for reimbursement as needed –Coordinate with GEMA, consultant, participants County, Cities & Towns –Participate in planning process –Plan adoption and implementation Everyone –Will ensure your input into the planning process –Will help the County meet the 25% grant match requirement

What is my part? The best plans are the ones with diverse group of stakeholder participation Local government Non-government organizations Businesses and private sector Special districts and authorities Schools and colleges/universities Residents Others Each has an important role in this process

Questions... Discussion

Contact Information Brian Laughlin Hazard Mitigation Planner Georgia Emergency Management Agency Phone: (404)

1.Form Planning Committee 2.Kickoff Meeting 3.Form Steering Committee 4.Update Critical Facilities, Hazards, and Risk Assessment 5.Update Mitigation Strategy 6.GEMA / FEMA Review and Approval 7.Adoption by Resolution PDM Planning Milestones

Plan schedule –Accelerated: 9 months, complete August 2012 –Standard: 18 months, complete May 2013 (Due date: August 2013) Timetable

Responsibilities Oconee County and Cities Attend committee meetings Homework & participation Regularly complete & submit timesheets Government action as required (e.g. pass adopting resolution) Regional Commission Meeting coordination and facilitation Data analysis and mapping Planning process Labor match documentation Plan development Plan submission/revisions

Document all hours spent Use provided form –Will be available through NEGRC website Meeting attendance, homework, and research should be included Use one form per work session Bring completed forms to meetings Labor Match

Create steering committee –Identify regular meeting schedule Review critical facilities (see handout) Homework

Dave Van De Weghe – Principal Planner (706) NEGRC Contact Information