Georgia Emergency Management Agency

CHARLEY ENGLISH
DIRECTOR

NEWS RELEASE

FEMA Approves Oconee County Multi-Jurisdictional
                Hazard Mitigation Plan                  

"I would like to commend Oconee County and all the participants who took part in the development of the Oconee County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan," said GEMA Director Charley English.  "With this approval, Oconee County and the towns of North High Shoals, Bishop, Watkinsville and Bogart are eligible applicants for hazard mitigation assistance grants to implement activities identified in their plan."

These activities will help reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of natural disasters.

Hazard mitigation is basically any sustained action taken by state or local governments to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to its citizens and property from natural hazards.  Examples of mitigation activities that can be funded through hazard mitigation assistance grants include the purchase or development of warning systems, construction of safe rooms, property acquisition of flood prone structures, storm water management improvements, retrofitting methods such as elevation, relocation, or structural reinforcement, and the development or update of mitigation plans. 

For more information on Georgia Hazard Mitigation plans or the Georgia Emergency Management Agency, call GEMA toll-free at 1-800-TRY-GEMA or visit www.gema.ga.gov.