Hazard Mitigation Grant Workshop Scheduled

ATLANTA—The Georgia Emergency Management Agency/Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold one workshop on June 10, 2015 to explain a hazard mitigation program that funds projects that reduce or eliminate damage from future disasters.

A portion of the federal funding made available for disaster response and recovery from the February winter storm is allocated for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The program provides grants to state and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation projects.

State officials will be available to answer questions and provide recovery information to workshop participants and to anyone who is interested.

The workshop is scheduled at:

• Hall County Emergency Operations Center – Wednesday, June 10 from 10 am to noon, 470 Crescent Drive Gainesville, GA 30501

Examples of HMGP projects include:

• Development or improvement of warning systems that include mitigation measures;
• Construction of public tornado safe rooms that meet FEMA construction guidelines;
• Retrofitting methods, such as elevation in place, structure relocation, structural reinforcement for high wind and seismic events, strapping of utilities, installation of storm shutters, tie downs, and other measures;
• Acquisition of property and/or relocation of homes, businesses and public facilities from hazard-prone areas;
• Generators that protect a critical facility and meet all other HMGP eligibility criteria.  Critical facilities may include Emergency Operation Centers, police and fire stations, hospitals, and water and sewer treatment facilities;
• Wildfire mitigation, such as creating defensible space, application of ignition-resistant construction and hazardous fuel reduction;
• Soil stabilization projects that protect against erosion and landslides;
• Structural hazard control or protection measures, such as floodwalls, detention basins and other storm drainage upgrades; and
• Development of a local Hazard Mitigation Plan that meets federal standards.

The state’s priority for the HMGP is to fund projects in the designated counties that reduce or eliminate damages to life and property resulting from severe winter storms.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.