Green River Area Development District (GRADD) is better prepared for disasters with the recent approval of its local hazard mitigation plan. The plan is a long-term strategy to reduce the vulnerability to natural disasters of communities in Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union and Webster counties.
Adopted plans identify hazards and potential hazards across the region and create a framework to help local officials make decisions that may ultimately protect lives and property.
The plan also outlines a strategy for implementing mitigation projects in the 7 counties and 27 cities of the Green River region. Through projects such as a mobile emergency management GIS database, updated seismic mapping, and an interactive priority ranking system for local threats, GRADD is taking proactive steps to lessen the impact of future disasters and the costly expenses associated with them.
History shows that the physical, financial and emotional losses caused by disasters can be reduced significantly through hazard mitigation planning. The planning process encourages communities to integrate mitigation with day-to-day decision making regarding land-use planning, floodplain management, site design and other activities.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency reviews and approves state, tribal and local hazard mitigation plans, which are required as a condition for states and communities to receive certain types of disaster assistance, including funding for mitigation projects. State mitigation plans must be approved every three years, and local and tribal mitigation plans must be approved at least once every five years.
The full regional plan can be viewed at www.GRADD.com/CED/Hazard_Mitigation.
For more information, please contact GRADD regional planner Carl Sims at 270-926-4433.
(Photo: GRADD)