Harrison County Organizes for Disaster Resistance
Release Date: August 3, 2001
Release Number: R4-01-19
Biloxi, MS -- Public and private sectors of coastal Harrison County will launch a campaign to become more disaster-resistant Saturday when they join the state and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in an agreement to participate in Project Impact.
"This is a community that has worked hard on becoming more disaster resistant," said Mary Lynne Miller, acting regional director of FEMA. "Having been a target of powerful hurricanes in the past, Harrison County wisely appreciates the value of this important work."
Project Impact is a national initiative of FEMA aimed at helping communities take action to reduce the impact of disasters. Representatives of Harrison County, FEMA and the state will join local officials and businesses in adopting a formal agreement beginning at 1 p.m. at Edgewater Mall.
Harrison County, with a population of 178,000, is no stranger to catastrophic weather events. In this century eleven hurricanes have directly impacted the county, including the infamous Hurricane Camille in 1969. The cities of Biloxi, Gulfport, Pass Christian, Long Beach and D'Iberville are veterans of hurricane strikes in the past.
Project Impact communities organize to identify vulnerability to natural and man-made disasters and develop plans to protect lives and property. The aim is to end the damage-repair cycle of disaster response. The county has already implemented improved building codes and floodplain management regulations that comply with the National Flood Insurance Program guidelines. The cities of Gulfport, Pass Christian, Long Beach and Biloxi each have established hazard mitigation planning councils.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 16:01:12