FEMA Approves Funding to Update Natchitoches Planning Grant 

Release Date: August 10, 2007
Release Number: 1603-680

» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Katrina
» More Information on Louisiana Hurricane Rita

NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved funding to update Natchitoches Parish's existing hazard mitigation plan.

The parish will strengthen its current hazard mitigation plan by identifying properties with flood drainage problems or severe repetitive loss. The updates will also include effects of hurricanes Katrina and Rita as well as any subsequent hazard event. In addition, the parish will identify critical facilities in need of hardening and/or elevating.

"FEMA is pleased to provide an opportunity for Natchitoches Parish to update its current plan and reevaluate areas of potential risk associated with flood hazards," said Jim Stark, FEMA's director of the Louisiana Transitional Office. "Hazard mitigation planning provides a blueprint for reducing potential losses."

Funding to update Natchitoches' current plan comes from FEMA's Expanded Mitigation Strategies Planning Grant Pilot. The program allows jurisdictions with FEMA-approved local hazard mitigation plans in place by Oct. 29, 2006, to apply for up to $150,000 to update their local mitigation plans. These updates will reduce the potential loss of life and property in future disasters. After submitting its proposed updates, Natchitoches Parish qualified for a grant worth $112,500.

When FEMA obligates funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, the monies are transferred to a Smartlink account.  This allows the grantee, the Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, to draw down the funds as quickly as possible.  The state may require additional information from the subgrantee before disbursing the funds.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides grants to states and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration, to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

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: Friday, 10-Aug-2007 08:28:50