CNMI’s state mitigation plan gets award

The American Planning Association-Hawaii Chapter has selected the CNMI Standard State Mitigation Plan as the recipient of its 2004 Current Topic Award-Implementing Safe Growth.

The award was presented at the 2004 Hawaii Congress of Planning Officials and APA International Conference in Honolulu, Hawaii on Sept. 9, 2004.

Members of the project team included the CNMI-Emergency Management Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Honolulu District, and Group 70 International Inc.

The Standard State Mitigation Plan is being considered for entry into the national APA competition.

The plan was developed to comply with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which requires all U.S. states and territories to develop and submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency an approved comprehensive mitigation plan by Nov. 1, 2004, or jeopardize federal disaster assistance programs following a presidential disaster declaration.

The approved plan allows the CNMI to remain eligible for funding assistance under Categories C through G (Permanent Restoration Work) under the FEMA Public Assistance Program following a major disaster. The CNMI’s eligibility for Categories A (Debris Removal) and B (Emergency Protective Measures) was not affected by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

The EMO asked for help from the Army Corps to develop the CNMI’s mitigation plan in December 2002. Group 70 was contracted by the Army Corps to provide technical assistance in the development of the plan. Hazard mitigation committees represented by both public and private sectors were formed on Saipan, Tinian and Rota at the direction of Gov. Juan N. Babauta to provide local input into the plan.

The plan includes vulnerability assessments of local facilities and infrastructure, as well as the visitor, garment and construction industries. It also develops a CNMI hazard mitigation strategy, and formulates mitigation goals, objectives and actions.

The CNMI’s mitigation plan was submitted to FEMA on June 30, 2004. Babauta formally adopted it on July 19, 2004 through Governor’s Directive #239. The plan also received the endorsement and support of the Office of the Mayors for the islands of Saipan, Tinian, and Rota. It was approved by FEMA on July 21, 2003.