The Legislature, by unanimous vote (Legislator Rich John was excused) authorized acceptance of $93,750 in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Federal funds, administered by the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, and $160,000 in funding from the New York State Department of State to develop the Tompkins County Resiliency and Recovery Plan. As described in a briefing memo to the Legislature from Associate Planner Scott Doyle, the County is merging support through the two grant programs “to develop a robust Resiliency and Recovery Plan for Tompkins County,” in order to better prepare Tompkins County for future disasters and to speed economic recovery post-disaster.
The Resiliency and Recovery Plan will update the County’s Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, and will address several actions identified as high priority in the 2014 Hazard Mitigation Plan. Actions include inventorying and assessment of critical assets in floodplains; conducting a local water supply drought impact analysis; developing education programs and tools for post-disaster recovery planning; developing a local debris management plan; and providing support to interested municipalities to enroll in FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS). The Legislature’s Planning, Energy, and Economic Development Committee has authorized issuance of a Request for Proposals for consulting services to prepare the Tompkins County Resiliency and Recovery Plan.