Council adopts county hazard mitigation plan to keep FEMA grant eligibility

The London City Council voted to adopt the Madison County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update, a five-year document county officials must approve to preserve eligibility for FEMA hazard mitigation grants and related federal funding.

A council member noted adoption is required for Madison County to remain eligible for federal mitigation grant programs including FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants and flood mitigation assistance. "Adoption of this plan is required for Madison County to qualify for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grants," the council member said, explaining that without countywide adoption municipalities could lose access to federal funding for projects addressing tornadoes, extreme weather, blizzards and ice storms.

The council moved to suspend the three-reading rule because of the timing for submission and approval by county and state emergency management agencies; after a roll call the measure was adopted. Staff said Madison County EMA will submit the city’s supporting resolution to the State Emergency Management Agency, which will forward the county package to FEMA for final review.

The council’s adoption means the county can continue to apply for mitigation grants that pay for infrastructure hardening, flood control and other resiliency projects — funding many jurisdictions rely on after major storms. Council members moved promptly to approve the plan, citing the potential loss of federal dollars if the county-wide adoption did not proceed before the deadline.