RISON - The Cleveland County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is asking county residents to complete an online survey that will make the county eligible for funding for projects related to combating the impact of natural disasters in the county.
Hallie Mull, coordinator for the Cleveland County OEM, said the county has received a FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant to create the Cleveland County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan.
"The county-wide hazard mitigation plan can help to identify and assess the risks of natural disasters such as floods, severe storms, and wildfires, which can have a devastating impact on lives, property and the economy," Mull said in a statement posted on the OEM's Facebook page.
She said having a FEMA approved hazard mitigation plan makes the county, the cities of Rison and Kingsland, both local school districts and other participants eligible for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant funding for things like safe rooms, elevation of flood prone structures, storm drainage, and flooding issues.
In the past, mitigation funding has helped the county buy culverts to address flood prone roads and the Cleveland County School District used it to build the safe room at the Kingsland School campus.
Developing a county-wide plan involves participation of local government agencies, emergency management officials, school districts, community stakeholders, and public input, Mull said.
She said she has been working with both the Cleveland County and Woodlawn School Districts on the mitigation plan as well as the Cleveland County Health Unit.
Residents can access the online mitigation survey by going to the Cleveland County Office of Emergency Management page on Facebook or by clicking here.
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