PRESS RELEASES

For Immediate Release

Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Atlantic County Receives $225,000 FEMA Grant for Hazard Mitigation

Atlantic County's Office of Emergency Preparedness has been awarded a $225,000 federal grant to develop a countywide hazard mitigation plan to further strengthen its emergency preparedness and response efforts and minimize potential loss of life and property.

The award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be supplemented with $60,000 of in-kind staff services provided by the county and participating municipalities.

Natural disasters, such as forest fires, tornadoes and severe flooding, have the potential to cause property damage, loss of life, economic hardship and threats to public health and safety. Hazard mitigation helps to sustain communities against the typical disaster cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated damage.

"We support the creation of a multi-jurisdictional plan that promotes cooperation among all levels of government to reduce the risk of loss and damage," stated County Executive Dennis Levinson. "This project will also pave the way for future FEMA funding for Atlantic County."

Communities without a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan are not eligible for FEMA funding under hazard mitigation, flood mitigation and pre-disaster mitigation grant programs.

According to Levinson, the plan will be comprised of two main areas: risk assessment and an action plan. Risk assessment will involve identifying potential hazards and their impact; identifying at-risk assets, including structures, services and populations; and estimating costs of such losses. The development of the action plan will include identifying and prioritizing goals and activities designed to minimize losses.

Residents can contribute to the development of the plan by completing a 15-question survey available online at www.aclink.org/PDM. The survey is designed to gauge residents' knowledge of natural disaster issues and identify vulnerable areas within our communities.

For more information, please contact Ed Conover, Atlantic County Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator, at (609) 407-6742.

Click here for more information about hazard mitigation.