Monroe And Morehouse Parish Receive Funding For Planning Grants 

Release Date: June 14, 2007
Release Number: 1603-647

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NEW ORLEANS, La. -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently approved funding to update existing hazard mitigation plans for the city of Monroe and Morehouse Parish.

The grant money 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 proposed updates, the city of Monroe and Morehouse Parish qualified for grants worth $112,500 each.

The city of Monroe has earmarked its funding to identify and review projects for design and engineering feasibility, environmental and cultural resource consideration, benefit cost analysis and cost estimating. After completing the project assessment, the data will be incorporated in the city's current hazard mitigation plan.

"The city of Monroe is pleased with the level of support we are receiving as we expand our efforts to produce an updated comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan," said Mayor James E. Mayo. "City of Monroe Public Safety, Planning & Urban Development, Public Works, Community Affairs and Engineering Departments will be working together to update our current projects and to identify possibilities for new areas to be included in our Hazard Mitigation Plan."

Mitigation projects for Morehouse Parish include identifying repetitive loss properties and strengthening critical facilities. These projects will be reviewed for design and engineering feasibility, environmental and cultural resource consideration, benefit cost analysis and cost estimating before being incorporated in the parish's current hazard mitigation plan.

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: Thursday, 14-Jun-2007 10:52:35