TITLE
Title
RESOLUTION TO ADOPT THE 2020 GUILFORD COUNTY MULTI-JURISDICTIONAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN
end
SPONSOR
Sponsor
Jim Albright, Emergency Services Director (Don Campbell)
end
BACKGROUND
Background
In an effort to reduce the Nation's mounting natural disaster losses, the U.S. Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) in order to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Section 322 of DMA 2000 emphasizes the need for state, local, and Tribal government entities to closely coordinate on mitigation planning activities and makes the development of a hazard mitigation plan a specific eligibility requirement for any local or Tribal government applying for federal mitigation grant funds. In short, if a jurisdiction is not covered by an approved mitigation plan, it will not be eligible for Federal mitigation grant funds or state disaster recovery funding. To be considered covered by the hazard mitigation plan, the county and its municipalities must adopt the plan by resolution.
The existing Guilford County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) was approved by FEMA in September 2015. FEMA requires that hazard mitigation plans be updated every five (5) years, including an update to any projects or strategies listed in the plan. Over the past year and a half, representatives from Guilford County and all ten (10) municipalities have participated in updating the Guilford County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. This update of the plan draws from the previous plan to document the efforts of each jurisdiction to incorporate hazard mitigation principles and practices into routine government activities and functions. At its core, the Plan recommends specific actions to minimize hazard vulnerability and protect residents from losses to those hazards that pose the greatest risk.
end
RESOLUTION
Resolution
WHEREAS, the citizens and property within Guilford County are subject to the effects of natural hazards that pose threats to lives and cause damage to property, and with the knowledge and experience that certain areas of the county are particularly vulnerable to hazards such as drought, extreme temperatures, hurricanes and tropical storms, thunderstorms, tornadoes, winter storms, floods, wildfires, and numerous other hazards; and
WHEREAS, the County desires to seek ways to mitigate the impact of identified hazard risks; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of North Carolina has in Part 6, Article 21 of Chapter 143; Parts 3, 5, and 8 of Article 19 of Chapter 160A; and Article 8 of Chapter 160A of the North Carolina General Statutes, delegated to local governmental units the responsibility to adopt regulations designed to promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of its citizenry; and
WHEREAS, the Legislature of the State of North Carolina has enacted General Statute Section 166A-19.41 (State emergency assistance funds) which provides that for a state of emergency declared pursuant to G.S. 166A-19.20(a) after the deadline established by the Federal Emergency Management Agency pursuant to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2002, P.L. 106-390, the eligible entity shall have a hazard mitigation plan approved pursuant to the Stafford Act; and.
WHEREAS, Section 322 of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 states that local governments must develop an All-Hazards Mitigation Plan in order to be eligible to receive future Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Funds and other disaster-related assistance funding and that said Plan must be updated and adopted within a five year cycle; and
WHEREAS, the County has performed a comprehensive review and evaluation of each section of the previously approved Hazard Mitigation Plan and has updated this plan as required under regulations at 44 CFR Part 201 and according to guidance issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management.
WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County to fulfill this obligation in order that the County will be eligible for federal and state assistance in the event that a state of disaster is declared for a hazard event affecting the County;
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved that the Board of Commissioners of Guilford County hereby:
1. Adopts the Guilford County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
2. Vests Guilford County Emergency Management with the responsibility, authority, and the means to:
(a) Inform all concerned parties of this action.
(b) Cooperate with Federal, State and local agencies and private firms which undertake to study, survey, map and identify floodplain areas, and cooperate with neighboring communities with respect to management of adjoining floodplain areas in order to prevent exacerbation of existing hazard impacts.
3. Appoints Guilford County Emergency Management to assure that the Hazard Mitigation Plan is reviewed annually and every five years as specified in the Plan to assure that the Plan is in compliance with all State and Federal regulations and that any needed revisions or amendments to the Plan are developed and presented to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners for consideration.
4. Agrees to take such other official action as may be reasonably necessary to carry out the objectives of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
ADOPTED this the 7th day of January 2021.
end
REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Approve the resolution to adopt the 2020 Guilford County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
end