Local Mitigation Strategy

Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group

Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) is a plan that anticipates damage and disruption that could result from a hurricane or other disaster and then determines how best to eliminate or at least reduce this damage. The LMS Working Group is a coalition of representatives who work together to identify risks and set priorities for addressing them. 

Once these priorities have been determined by the Planning Group and added to the Master Initiatives List, the county is eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding through Florida’s Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). Grant funds are intended to bring mitigation projects to fruition that would end up on a wish list otherwise. Part of Monroe County’s eligibility for this grant money is determined by meeting its requirement to facilitate LMS working group meetings.

The LMS working group began the process of revising the Master Initiatives list in April 2017. Five months later, Hurricane Irma struck the Florida Keys, highlighting the importance of a Local Mitigation Strategy and underscoring the urgency of the revision process. 

The full group met in October 2017 and January 2018. The initiatives ranking sub-group met three times from March through May 2018 to prioritize the projects submitted in February. 

The full group approved the 2018 Master Initiatives List and discussed the next steps regarding the HMGP process and other issues. 

The group submitted Hurricane Irma’s HMGP grant applications in August 2018. These are being reviewed and, if approved, potentially awarded by the Florida Department of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

FEMA is expected to announce funding for the Flood Mitigation Assistance and Pre-Disaster Mitigation Assistance programs. All funding is subject to availability.

Current Local Mitigation Strategy Plan 

The LMS Plan is updated every five years. 

Public Meetings

TBD  

Participants

Active participants include co-chair Mimi Young; members of the Monroe County BOCC; all five municipalities in Monroe County; the Monroe County School District; the State and Federal government; utilities; nonprofit organizations; representatives from businesses; and the public.                                        

Resources