How is my community preparing for natural disasters?

Overview

Natural hazards such as tornadoes and floods leave permanent marks on people and communities. It pays to prepare, and that's one reason local governments are currently updating their plans to help protect property and save lives.

Missouri residents in five counties gave feedback online and in person about what actions they thought governments should — or shouldn't — be taking to reduce the impact of natural hazards. Learn more »

Participating Missouri communities

Please check back for updates.

Cass County	Clay County	Jackson County	Platte County
Peculiar	Kearney	Kansas City, Mo.**	Riverside
Loch Lloyd	Gladstone	Oak Grove	West Platte R-II School District
Pleasant Hill	Liberty	Grandview	Weatherby Lake
Pleasant Hill R-III School District	Smithville	Raytown	Tracy
Archie R-V School District	Pleasant Valley	Blue Springs	Parkville
Harrisonville School District	North Kansas City	Independence	Houston Lake
Strasburg		Lee's Summit	Platte City
Raymore		Lone Jack C-6 School District	Northmoor
Garden City

See what Kansas communities are doing »

Background

The Federal Emergency Management Agency requires all state and local governments to adopt hazard mitigation plans as a prerequisite to receiving certain grant funding. This requirement applies to both pre- and post-disaster planning and recovery grants.

The Mid-America Regional Council assisted cities and county governments in Cass, Clay, Jackson, Platte and Ray counties in 2004 by preparing a Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which provides a tool for local communities to identify and mitigate risks to people and property. After formal adoption by the participating jurisdictions, the plan was approved by FEMA on March 8, 2005.

Per federal regulation, all 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.