GEMA/HS Dispatch June 2018 Edition | Page 18

GEMA/HS Hazard Mitigation to submit By Julia Regeski N atural disasters can be “It creates a win-win scenario for doesn’t plan for hurricanes on a costly, no matter if the everybody. States do a better job daily basis. “Our overarching goal response is local, state or of managing the program due to is making sure the state is open for federal, but recovery funding can the increased metrics, and states business. It’s our top priority,” she be rendered useless if agencies get more money to do hazard said. involved aren’t equipped to put it mitigation projects.” She attended the hazard to good use. It’s up to the Georgia The lengthy planning process mitigation workshops after Emergency Management and begins with an assessment of the seeing the importance of public Homeland Security Agency’s risks facing Georgia. Through a messaging during Hurricane Irma. Hazard Mitigation department to partnership with the Carl Vinson “There’s a lot of good strategy prove to the Federal Emergency Institute of Government at the being discussed and promoted,” Management Agency that the University of Georgia, the agency she said. “We frequently state of Georgia is qualified and learns exactly what risks Georgia communicate with the public, and capable of accepting federally has historically faced and then that includes the travelers that may awarded money. ranks them in accordance to their not understand our weather and its As ruled by the Disaster impact on the state overall. risks that those of us around here Mitigation Act of 2000, each Despite the fact that in the know about and take for granted.” individual state is required to five years since GEMA/HS last State agencies aren’t the only submit their hazard mitigation submitted their plan to FEMA ones whose perspectives are strategy to FEMA, where it will the state has faced two major considered when drafting the be reviewed and approved so hurricanes, the top-ranked hazard plan, even though bringing in a that states can be entrusted with for the 2019 plan is actually diverse planning group was one financial assistance. of Hazard Mitigation’s “It creates a win-win scenario for Without federal approval, top priorities. Since all state emergency everybody. States do a better job 159 Georgia counties management agencies are also required by of managing the program due to become ineligible to FEMA to maintain data receive the funding the increased metrics, and states get driven, risk based hazard specifically allocated to mitigation plans, the more money to do hazard mitigation GEMA/HS state level them as a result of the Stafford Act, such as plan must take those into projects.” individual assistance, consideration, acting as public assistance, as well as tornadoes, since they impact more a sort of umbrella document for all fire management and hazard people, more frequently. These of Georgia. GEMA/HS Hazard mitigation grants. hazards and their rankings were Mitigation regularly provides While there are standard metrics discussed at length in a series technical support to these counties, each state must meet, GEMA/HS of workshops attended by not but ensuring that all of their own takes it one step further, joining only the partners that GEMA/ hazards are recognized and only 12 other states as they