FAQs

About the information on this site

Where do these actions come from?

Participating communities filled out a private, online survey where they had the option of choosing from a long list of things that they could be doing to reduce the impact of natural hazards. Of course, because of time and money constraints, it simply isn't possible for every community to take every single action. The icons represent the information each community submitted via that survey.

Symbol map

What do the symbols mean?

Each action has symbols next to it in the Communities column. The symbols represent which communities are currently taking or have already taken that action. A plain circle icon represents an action that is currently in progress for that community; a circle icon with a check mark behind it represents an action that community has already completed. See image at right.

My city isn't listed.

Not all cities within the five participating Missouri counties chose to submit information as part of this plan. If your city isn't listed, we encourage you to find the symbol for your county and review that information.

Other questions?

We're happy to answer other questions. E-mail info@onekcvoice.org for more information.

About the plan

What is the plan?

The Regional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan is a document that Missouri jurisdictions in Greater Kansas City can collaboratively develop and adopt to meet federal planning requirements. The plan lists actions that participating communities are taking to reduce the impacts of potential natural hazards on people and property. Each participating jurisdiction is seeking input from its residents on those actions.

Why create a plan?

In accordance with the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, states, tribes and local governments are required to develop plans that lessen the impacts of natural hazards. As a result of this act, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now requires local governments to have an approved mitigation plan in order to apply for and/or receive grant certain disaster recovery and mitigation grant funding.

Planning for natural hazards also:

  • provides an in-depth view of potential natural hazards to the region,
  • is a way for local governments to reduce risks to people and property, and
  • identifies actions that communities might take to reduce future risks
    or losses.

Why was this being done now?

In 2004, the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC) helped city and county governments in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties prepare a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan. After formal adoption by the participating jurisdictions, the plan was approved by FEMA on March 8, 2005. Per federal regulation, all natural hazard mitigation plans require a five-year review and update; the current plan expires March 8, 2010. The Metropolitan Emergency Managers Committee is leading this effort to update the 2004 plan for counties on the Missouri side of the region.