Mississippi Making The Most Of Mitigation
Release Date: August 21, 2007
Release Number: 1604-587a
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BILOXI, Miss. -- Mississippi is making an investment in its future with nearly half a billion dollars from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has allocated approximately $434 million to Mississippi.
Administered by the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), the HMGP helps communities take actions to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural hazards and their effects. Project types include structure elevation, wind retrofitting of facilities, property acquisition, planning, mitigated reconstruction, and safe room installation. Projects must fit within the state's and local governments' overall mitigation strategy and comply with HMGP guidelines.
"Our partnership with MEMA really drives this program," said Sid Melton, director of the FEMA Mississippi Transitional Recovery Office. "Our mitigation specialists have to work together to produce the most effective results for the state."
A congressionally mandated study conducted for FEMA revealed that mitigation saves society an average of $4 for every dollar spent. Such defensive, preventative mitigation measures learned and implemented by Mississippians will contribute to a national floodplain management plan that saves taxpayers an estimated $1.1 billion per year by preventing flood damages.
Across the state, money for mitigation projects is at work. Of the $434 million allocated for the HMGP, $84 million has been obligated for various projects.
Mississippi's three special statewide initiatives have garnered outstanding community support - the siren, generator, and saferoom initiatives.
The siren initiative funds the installation of warning systems on school campuses and communities throughout the state to allow students, staff and community residents enough warning to seek shelter in the event of a natural disaster or man-made emergency. The University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, Mississippi Valley State University, Hinds Community College and Wilkinson and Pearl River counties were each recently awarded grants totaling nearly $564,000.
"These mitigation projects are apart of our efforts to keep Mississippians safe in the event of an emergency," said MEMA Director Mike Womack. "Every warning siren or safe room installed represents lives that will be saved."
Nearly $32 million has been allocated for the generator initiative, which funds generators in critical facilities for their evacuation, first responder and sheltering missions. The saferoom initiative funds the installation of individual, community, and group shelters.
Communities across the state are using HMGP funds to implement safe and smart building practices. Stone County and the city of Moss Point received grants of $222,947 and $188,317 respectively, to develop building standards and enforcement programs in their municipalities. The grants will provide initial funding for the development and implementation of comprehensive building code departments.
One of the state's top priorities is mitigation planning. Approved by FEMA and MEMA, hazard mitigation plans enable communities to identify policies, activities, and tools that can be used to implement mitigation actions.
"Probably the most important mitigation project our teams are working on is the reinforcement of Mississippi's schools. It just makes sense to strengthen every school to the same stringent standards," said Melton.
Two schools in Harrison County received more than $20 million to build state-of-the-art storm shelters on campus. The shelters will provide near absolute protection against a tornado, hurricane or other severe weather event for more than 5,000 people. The schools will be built in an area where very few if any hardened structures existed prior to the storm and will be constructed to withstand 200 mph wind gusts and debris impact. Other communities are examining Harrison County's example to discover new ways to shelter students and local residents.
"Working together on these mitigation projects allows us to show where the FEMA/MEMA partnership really comes in strong. We collaborate for the good of local communities," said Melton. "All the hard work being done today can be preserved if we use the mitigation tools available. These HMGP funds are available to help all communities make it happen."
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Wednesday, 22-Aug-2007 15:13:26