{"id":90280,"date":"2017-07-15T07:01:32","date_gmt":"2017-07-15T12:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thevwindependent.com\/news\/?p=90280"},"modified":"2017-07-15T07:01:54","modified_gmt":"2017-07-15T12:01:54","slug":"hazard-mitigation-grant-funds-available","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thevwindependent.com\/news\/2017\/07\/15\/hazard-mitigation-grant-funds-available\/","title":{"rendered":"Hazard Mitigation grant funds available"},"content":{"rendered":"

Submitted information<\/em><\/p>\n

COLUMBUS \u2013 The Ohio Emergency Management Agency (Ohio EMA) announced that local governments may apply for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese hazard mitigation grants fund activities that reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future damages,\u201d said Sima Merick, Ohio EMA executive director. \u201cHere in Ohio, the majority of these funds go toward the acquisition and demolition of repetitively flooded structures.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"\u201cThe remaining land is then deed restricted as open space to ensure nothing is constructed on the property in the future,\u201d said Steve Ferryman, Ohio EMA\u2019s mitigation branch chief. \u201cElevating homes in place above flood levels, and the construction of community safe rooms to protect lives during a tornado are examples of other frequently funded project types.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mitigation project priorities are identified in local hazard mitigation plans.\u00a0 In Ohio, most mitigation projects address the hazards of flooding or wind, Ferryman said.<\/p>\n

In accordance with the Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines, the application period for two Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs — the\u00a0Flood Mitigation Assistance<\/a>\u00a0program and the\u00a0Pre-Disaster Mitigation<\/a>\u00a0program \u2013 begins in August.<\/p>\n

There are two application deadline dates for Ohio applicants:<\/p>\n