WORK TO UPDATE MULTI-JURISDICTION HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN BEGINNING

Effort Being Led by the Papio-Missouri River NRD

Omaha, Nebraska - 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 disasters.

To help guide future hazard mitigation projects, the Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District is undertaking an effort to update their current Hazard Mitigation Plan, approved by FEMA in August 2011. Hazard mitigation plans (HMP) are a requirement of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, administered by FEMA, and once a community, county, or district is part of an approved plan they become 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 Papio-Missouri River NRD's HMP will expire on August 10, 2016.

A hazard mitigation plan is a publicly-guided document that identifies vulnerability to natural disasters such as flood, drought, earthquake, wildfire, winter storm, tornado/high wind storm, dam failure, etc. The plan sets goals, establish mitigation alternatives, and prioritize projects which may alleviate potential damages to property and provide protection when future disasters occur.

This planning effort is being guided by a Planning Team consisting of representatives from the Papio-Missouri River NRD, Burt, Dakota, Douglas, Sarpy, Thurston, and Washington Counties, 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, Sanitary Improvement Districts, Tribal Nations, and School Districts within the NRD are eligible to participate.

The Papio-Missouri River 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 Papio-Missouri River NRD is providing the 25% local match.

For more information on this planning effort, contact Lori Laster, Papio-Missouri River NRD Stormwater Management Engineer, at (402) 444-6222 or llaster [at] papionrd.org.

Emmett J Egr, APR
Information/Education Coordinator
Papio-Missouri River Natural Resources District
8901 S 154th St, Omaha, NE 68138
402-315-1708 
eegr [at] papionrd.org 
www.papionrd.org