Hazard Mitigation Planning
The Tallahassee-Leon County Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) is the community's primary planning tool to help minimize the risks to individuals and property from natural and man-made hazards. The LMS is also required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to apply for and receive Federal pre- and post-disaster assistance funds allocated to Leon County. Post-disaster mitigation funds were acquired by local government following disaster declarations for tropical storms Alison, Barry, and Helene, and hurricanes Charley, Frances, and Ivan. Post-disaster funds have also been applied for by the City of Tallahassee and Leon County as part of a joint grant application following Tropical Storm Fay, and Florida State University has applied for funds following a disaster declaration for the severe storms in the spring of 2009 that affected Leon and other surrounding counties.
The LMS directs local government to use these monies for mitigation measures such as hardening critical facilities like fire stations against flooding and high winds, expanding the availability of emergency shelters, rebuilding roads and other infrastructure affecting public and private property, increasing flood control measures, among other community hazard mitigation needs.
The current LMS was prepared in 1999 and adopted by both the City of Tallahassee and Leon County in 2000. The current LMS expired on January 19, 2010. The current LMS has been updated in accordance with federal rules by the Planning Department with information and input provided by other local government agencies and departments, state and regional agencies, and the public. A draft copy was transmitted to the state Division of Emergency Management (DEM) for review. DEM then transmitted this version of the LMS to FEMA for their review. FEMA appoved the updated LMS on January 26, 2010, pending formal community adoption. The Planning Department expects to bring the updated LMS to both the City Commission and Board of County Commissioners in April 2010 for adoption via a resolution in a public hearing.
Selections from the current LMS are provided below. The updated draft LMS is also provided below. If you need any additional information, please contact Steve Hodges at the Tallahassee - Leon County Planning Department.
Draft 2010 Update to Tallahassee-Leon County "Local Mitigation Strategy"
- Chapter 1 - Planning Process
- Chapter 2 - Hazard Profiles and Vulnerability Analysis
- Chapter 3 - Mitigation Strategy
- Chapter 4 - Plan Maintenance
Forms and Publications (PDF)
- Introduction
- Executive Summary
- City of Tallahassee/Leon County Local Mitigation Strategy
- Identification of Existing or Planned Hazard Mitigation Initiatives
- Table 7.0:Prioritized Mitigation Initiatives (With Potential Funding Sources)
- Table 7.1:Projects In The City of Tallahassee/Leon County Stormwater Management Plan
- Table 7.3: Mitigation Initiatives Prioritization Scores
- 2009 Local Mitigation Strategy Progress Report