Welcome

On behalf of the State of Montana Disaster and Emergency Services (DES), I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the triennial update of the Montana Statewide Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Plan. By providing input and direction as a project stakeholder you can assist us by representing your interests in making Montana a safer place to live and work. Per 44 CRF 201.4, States must review and update their PDM Plans to reflect changes in development, progress in statewide mitigation efforts and changes in priorities and resubmit them to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval no less than every three years. Montana DES has contracted with Tetra Tech, Inc. to assist with the 2010 Update to the Montana Statewide PDM Plan.

The 2007 Statewide PDM Plan incorporated the risks, hazard assessment and local mitigation strategies from the 53 counties and 7 tribal PDM Plans into the State PDM Plan. The major emphasis of the 2010 State Plan Update will be to enhance the Statewide Hazard Assessment by developing more information to identify hazard prone areas at the county and tribal levels. Risk will be assessed based on geographic conditions such as topography, socio-economic factors and other non-jurisdictional characteristics. As part of the update process, a risk assessment template will be developed for the State and local communities that is modular, easily modified, and can be distributed electronically. The methodology will outline a procedure for loss estimation calculations by hazard type that can be used to build upon and improve data presented in local plans.

We will enhance the project website during the State PDM Update in order to engage more individuals in review of the draft plan. The website will contain YouTube videos on hazard mitigation and a project blog whereby we can have an active dialog on hazard mitigation and provide an interactive plan review process. The project website can be accessed at: www.MT-HMPUpdate.com.

We have an eleven month timeframe for completing the project. Public meetings will be conducting during the drafting phase at various locations around the State. By 1 October 2010 we will have a final plan to submit to FEMA for approval.

We look forward to your involvement in this very important project. Completion of the Statewide PDM Plan Update will go a long way to save lives, prevent losses, protect the environment in the State of Montana and ensure Montana remains eligible to continue to receive immediate disaster relief, recovery and mitigation assistance from FEMA.

Sincerely,

Kent Atwood, CFM
Hazard Mitigation Officer
State of Montana

PO Box 4789
Fort Harrison, MT 59636-4789
406-841-3960