Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan

The city, as part of an effort through Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), participated in the 2004 development and subsequent update in 2010 of a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. The draft plan has been approved by the State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA, and at the federal level by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, FEMA.

Plan Development
The Mid-America Regional Council Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed to help cities and counties on the Missouri side of the metro area identify ways to reduce risks from disaster events. The plan's development and adoption allows local communities to be eligible for certain FEMA pre- and post-disaster grant funding.

Grants
The Federal Emergency Management Agency makes grants available to local communities through state emergency management offices for projects that reduce risks from natural hazards that could result in loss of life or property damage. These grants have been used in the Kansas City area to purchase properties and remove homes in flood-prone areas and to bury utility lines. To continue eligibility to apply for these federal grants a community must participate in a 5-year update to their hazard mitigation plan.

Community Impact
Forty communities and school districts participated in developing the 2010 update to the Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. Through local input and evaluation of state and local data, 8 natural and 4 technological hazards were identified as having the greatest potential to impact the Kansas City area, including: