County-wide hazard mitigation plan in place for another five years

By Travis Fischer, tkfischer@charlescitypress.com

Floyd County is officially prepared for the worst as the county Emergency Management Commission has finalized the 2022 update to the county’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.

“Mitigation is basically preparing to lesson the impact of disasters,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Jason Webster.

Every five years the county, along with the cities and school districts within it, must revise the 283-page document with updates on the potential areas of risk in the county that could be vulnerable to extreme hazards and the preventive measures that have been taken to reduce those risks.

Keeping the Hazard Mitigation Plan updated is important for two-fold reasons, as having a documented plan in place is essential for eligibility when seeking grants for hazard mitigation projects and assistance when a disaster happens, Webster said.

FEMA has five grant programs related to hazard mitigation assistance that cover a range of projects for before and after disaster strikes.

On the mitigation side, the plan encourages public entities to be proactive in preparing for disaster situations. Grants are available for projects that protect homes and businesses either through direct retrofits, such as elevating flood prone foundations, or indirectly through the creation of levees and drainage areas.

In some cases, Webster said, FEMA will offer grants to purchase hazard-prone properties so that owners can relocate to safer areas.

Beyond its administrative necessity, the plan is a detailed document with historical information about the utility systems in the county. From an in-depth report on Charles City’s water and sewer infrastructure, to MidAmerica Energy’s gas and electric projects, to the remaining estimated lifespan of the FMC Landfill, the report includes a wealth of information about what is in the county and how it operates.

Naturally, the plan also includes information about potential hazards and the impact they may have on the county. From relatively negligible threats like wildfires and sinkholes to more critical hazards like floods and tornadoes, the plan details these potential dangers and how they have historically impacted the area.

The plan also details hazard mitigation updates that area entities have made over the last five years.

In Charles City, for example, the plan recognizes several recent and upcoming measures that the city has taken to reduce the impact of natural disasters. From back-up generators for the sewer system to permeable paving projects to increasing water supply capacity at the water treatment plant, the city has made considerable investments in projects that will ensure the water continues to run in the event of a major flood.

With the risk of flooding being the overwhelming focus of hazard mitigation efforts, taking protective measures against flash flooding is the highest priority of the county’s action plan.

“It identifies future plans that could be done,” said Webster. “The more mitigation that happens, you lessen the bad things that happen in disasters.”