TITLE
Title
GUILFORD COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
Tommy Sluder
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BACKGROUND
Background
In an effort to reduce the Nation’s escalating losses from natural disasters, the U.S. Congress enacted the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000), amending the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Section 322 of DMA 2000 underscores the importance of coordinated mitigation planning among state, local, and Tribal governments and establishes the development of an approved hazard mitigation plan as a prerequisite for eligibility for federal mitigation grant funding. Jurisdictions not covered by an approved mitigation plan are ineligible to receive these funds.
Eligible programs include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, both administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Communities that adopt and maintain a federally approved hazard mitigation plan are therefore better positioned to compete for and secure mitigation funding both before and after disaster events.
In addition to federal requirements, the State of North Carolina mandates that jurisdictions maintain an approved hazard mitigation plan in order to qualify for mitigation and public assistance funding following a state-declared disaster. This requirement is codified in North Carolina Senate Bill 300, which formally links mitigation planning to disaster funding eligibility at the state level.
A hazard mitigation plan establishes the broad community vision and guiding principles for reducing hazard risk and further proposes specific mitigation actions to eliminate or reduce identified vulnerabilities. This plan is updated every five years through coordination with a state-sponsored hazard mitigation firm. Through extensive data and research, this plan outlines specific hazards (natural and man-made) that have and likely would impact Guilford County in the future.
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Adopt the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, and associated resolution, to be effective February 19, 2026, for a term of five (5) years.
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