JOHNSON COUNTY CONDUCTS MULTI-JURISDICTION HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN REVIEW

Johnson County Emergency Management & Homeland Security, incorporated cities, school districts, county departments, and fire district representatives gathered on June 16, 2011 to complete the review of the FEMA-approved Johnson County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan was approved by FEMA on May 26, 2009 and is valid until May 26, 2014.

The review is part of the plan maintenance process and will assist in the required five-year update of the plan.  The purpose of the meeting was to review the plan’s strategy to reduce the vulnerability of people and property in the County to the impacts of natural hazards; to determine what actions have been completed to date, as well as discuss the continued relevance of proposed activities in light of changes and/or development in the County. Some completed actions include construction of tornado safe rooms in schools and public buildings, 15 new outdoor warning sirens funded by state grants, and the purchase of back-up generators for critical facilities.

The goal of proactive mitigation planning is to help reduce the costs of disaster response and recovery by protecting critical community facilities, reducing liability exposure, minimizing overall community impacts and disruptions, and to make participating jurisdictions eligible for mitigation funding programs from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grants, administered by Kansas Division of Emergency Management and wildfire grants administered by the Kansas Forest Service were specifically discussed.  The planning committee is exploring opportunities for these grant programs to fund the implementation of several mitigation activities outlined in the plan.

Public comments and questions will be accepted through July 31, 2011 concerning this plan review and the planning meeting. You may email Deb Maney or call at 913-715-1014 with your comments. A complete view of the Johnson County Mitigation Plan can be found at http://www.jocoem.org/planning/plans.shtml

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