Hazard mitigation plan approved

A multijurisdictional hazard mitigation plan was approved Monday night by Ponca City’s Board of Commissioners.

The Robert T. Stafford Act establishes requirements for local communities to qualify for federal disaster assistance grants. A key requirement is that communities adopt a Hazard Mitigation Plan that has been formally approved by FEMA.

Ponca City has maintained a current Hazard Mitigation Plan for the last 10 years, which in turn has enabled Ponca City to receive $1.6 million in federal funding for various mitigation projects.

Those projects have included the acquisition of flood- prone properties and the construction of flood mitigation structures.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan must be updated every five years for the City to be eligible for federal grant assistance.

Development Services Director Chris Henderson said a committee has worked on the plan over a period of three months and has identified a list of hazards, which have been ranked as possible threats to Ponca City. Among the items on the list are earthquakes, hail storms, tornadoes, flooding and other natural disasters.

Members of the committee included staff from Phillips 66, the Army Corps of Engineers and Alliance Health Ponca City Hospital.

Henderson said the City of Ponca City has already addressed many of the items on the list and has completed a 998 page plan. He told commissioners that FEMA has verbally approved the plan.

The plan also helps the city’s position in an audit by the Community Rating System, which is being performed today. Henderson said having a completed hazard mitigation plan is worth 125 points, and may help Ponca City maintain its top rating of 5 in the CRS program.

The City Commission voted to approve a resolution adopting the plan.