City of Tulsa to Seek Public Input July 24 on Updating FEMA Hazard Mitigation Plan

7/19/2018

Want to help the City of Tulsa prepare for the next tornado or flood? The City is updating its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and seeks input from residents at a public meeting Tuesday, July 24, on the natural disasters that could affect them.

The public meeting is set for 6-7 p.m., July 24 at the Central Center at Centennial Park, 1028 E. Sixth St. Refreshments will be provided.

FEMA requires local governments to regularly update their Hazard Mitigation Plan as a condition of receiving Federal Hazard Mitigation Assistance. Based on completion of this planning process, FEMA may provide pre-disaster funding for projects such as flood-proofing buildings, buying land, improving stormwater management facilities, construction of storm shelters and other disaster preparations. Post disaster funds would also be available, helping the city to recover and rebuild after a natural disaster strikes.

Tulsa’s hazard mitigation planning includes several essential pieces:

• Identifying and profiling hazards that affect the local area – from tornadoes and floods to wildfires and earthquakes
• Analyzing the people and facilities at risk from those hazards
• Developing mitigation actions to lessen or reduce the impact of the profiled hazards both before and after disaster strikes

According to Gary McCormick, Senior Special Projects Engineer for the City of Tulsa and a member of Tulsa’s Stormwater Drainage and Hazard Mitigation Advisory Board, natural disasters can be costly and traumatizing to a community. However, with the right preparation, the impact of any disaster can be reduced.

“Preparing a Hazard Mitigation Plan is an essential part of community planning and ensures Tulsa will have the right infrastructure and emergency procedures to prepare for disaster,” said McCormick. “Getting help from residents who have lived through some of Tulsa’s natural disasters will only strengthen our plans and preparation for the future. We encourage residents to come learn about the different disasters the City prepares for and to share their own insight about disasters they have faced.”

The City’s process to update its current Hazard Mitigation plan will include several opportunities for public participation, including public meetings, invitations to share stories and information on past Tulsa disasters, and a public survey to solicit additional input from residents. This public input will be included in a draft plan, which will be available for public comment in the spring of 2019.