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Department Contacts Hazard Mitigation Planning Local Mitigation Action Plans (MAPs) serve as a guide for decision makers as they commit resources to reducing the effect of natural hazards. For disasters declared after November 1, 2004, local governments must have a Hazard Mitigation Plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) to remain eligible for project funding from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. ATCOG has prepared MAPs for each of the nine Texas counties. The MAPs have been forwarded to the Texas Department of Emergency Management (DEM) for review. After DEM review, if no revisions are required the MAPs are forwarded to FEMA for review and approval. After approval by FEMA, the local jurisdictions included in the MAP have 90 days in which to adopt the MAP. Red River County's MAP has received FEMA approval and it has been adopted by the jurisdictions included in the MAP. The other eight MAPs are being revised by ATCOG staff and will be forwarded to FEMA after the required revisions have been made. The MAPs establish a viable, effective mitigation program to reduce vulnerabilities, risks, and human suffering caused by hazards such as floods, tornadoes, thunderstorms/lightning/hail, drought, dust storms, winter storms, wildfires, earthquakes, transportation accidents, radiological hazards, and dam/levee failure. FEMA Interim Housing Assistance As a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there are a large number of hurricane evacuees residing in the ATCOG region. ATCOG has contracted with FEMA to provide an interim housing assistance program for the evacuees. ATCOG has signed leases with landlords throughout the region to provide rental assistance payments for evacuees residing in both apartments and single family housing within the nine Texas counties. The FEMA contract also provides the evacuees assistance with their utility bills, as well as basic pieces of furniture and household items. Evacuees residing in public housing have not been eligible for rental or utility assistance, but they have received assistance with furniture and household items. This program will continue until FEMA transitions eligible evacuees to an individual assistance program which will provide further rental assistance for up to 18 months. ATCOG has also contracted with the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG) to provide the same assistance to evacuees residing in the ETCOG region. ATCOG has assisted approximately 200 families in our region and 300 families in the ETCOG region. In addition to receiving reimbursement for all incurred expenses, ATCOG will also receive an administration fee for operating the Interim Housing Assistance program.
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