$45,000 FEMA Grant to Assist in Hazard Mitigation Planning

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved a $45,000  planning assistance grant for the Cape Cod Commission to develop Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation (MHM) Plans for Yarmouth, Bourne, Mashpee, Harwich, and Falmouth.

Once completed and certified these plans will join existing certified Local MHM Plans for Dennis, Chatham, Barnstable, Truro and Provincetown, as well as the Regional MHM Plan for Barnstable County.  A FEMA certified MHM plan is a pre-requisite for eligibility in the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System (CRS).  Town’s participating in the CRS receive discounts on flood insurance premiums.

Ryan Bennett, the Commission’s Hazard Mitigation Specialist, will work with each town’s  local hazard mitigation planning committee to identify hazards, conduct a risk  and vulnerability assessment, and develop an appropriate mitigation strategy.

Climate change impacts are examined at each stage of plan development and adaptation strategies are incorporated, as appropriate.  The Commission will contribute GIS analysis and mapping services to the development of each plan.