Hazard Mitigation

LOCAL MITIGATION STRATEGY (LMS)

The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) is a multi-jurisdictional plan to reduce the identified hazards within a County.

The LMS planning process, which is updated every five years, is used to set short and long-term mitigation goals and objectives for the County. Hazards affecting the community are identified, vulnerability to the hazards are assessed, and through a collaborative effort, consensus is reached on how to minimize the effects of the hazards.

In order to be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) project grants, the County and Cities must have a federally approved mitigation plan. The Manatee County Local Mitigation Strategy is federally compliant, and was originally adopted in 1999 with updates in 2004, 2009, 2014, and 2019.

The LMS includes an Initiatives List that is regularly updated with identified and prioritized projects both funded and unfunded, that ultimately will improve the capabilities of personnel and equipment, as well as reduce the vulnerability of the residents of the Cities and the County. After a disaster, this list is also used to help prioritize HMGP projects. Some examples of proposed projects might include shuttering critical facilities, installation of back-up generators to critical facilities, stormwater mitigation projects to reduce flooding to roadways, public information campaigns, etc.

The LMS Working Group includes members from the County, six municipalities of Manatee County, fire districts and sheriff’s office.  Unless otherwise indicated, quarterly LMS meetings are held at 3:30 p.m. on the 3rd Thursday of March, June, September and December with the location varying.  An agenda is prepared in advance with consideration for additional agenda items upon request.

The next meeting will be a special meeting on Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. via Teams Meeting: 1-863-583-5969 Conference ID: 598 859 765#   

View Agenda Online

Peril of Flood

Since the adoption of the Comprehensive Plan in 1989, climate change has become an existential threat to Floridians and the citizens of Manatee County. Recognizing that action must be taken to preserve the public health, safety, comfort, and welfare of Floridians, the State Legislature passed the Peril of Flood Act of 2015.

The 2015 Peril of Flood Act expanded the provisions of Florida Statute section 163.3178(2), adding six (6) requirements for the redevelopment component of the coastal management element of the comprehensive plan that focuses on eliminating inappropriate and unsafe development in coastal areas.

  1. Include development and redevelopment principles, strategies, and engineering solutions that reduce the flood risk in coastal areas which results from high-tide events, storm surge, flash floods, stormwater runoff, and the related impacts of sea-level rise.
  2. Encourage the use of best practices development and redevelopment principles, strategies, and engineering solutions that will result in the removal of coastal real property from flood zone designations established by FEMA.
  3. Identify site development techniques and best practices that may reduce losses due to flooding and claims made under flood insurance policies issued in the state.
  4. Be consistent with, or more stringent that, the flood-resistant construction requirements in the Florida Building Code and applicable flood plain management regulations set forth in 44 C.F.R. part 60.
  5. Require that any construction activities seaward of the coastal construction control lines established pursuant to s. 161.053 be consistent with chapter 161.
  6. Encourage local governments to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System administered by FEMA to achieve flood insurance premium discounts for their residents.

Manatee County Board of County Commissioners signed onto the Memorandum of Understanding Creating the Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition on September 11th, 2018. The Tampa Bay Regional Resiliency Coalition has been formed to coordinate climate adaptation and mitigation activities across county lines, to advance local and regional responses to and preparations for economic and social disruption projected to result from sea-level rise, and to provide state and local agencies with access to technical assistance and support in addressing the effects of climate change.

County staff—in collaboration with the University of Florida Resilient Communities Initiative and the University of South Florida College of Marine Science - lead a Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council (TBRPC) grant project to improve local government capacity to assess vulnerability and develop adaptation strategies to mitigate flood risk.  The project assisted regional local governments with implementing the 2015 Peril of Flood legislation requirements for local Comprehensive Plans.  In addition to a more comprehensive analysis of areas vulnerable to extreme weather events, recurring flooding, and sea-level rise (SLR), grant activities focused on addressing environmental and social vulnerabilities. The grant activities also addressed several of the major recommendations for updating the PDRP.  The grant project performance period concluded in June 2019 and now new recommended policy language is being drafted. Watch for public comment and outreach opportunities in the Fall 2020/Winter 2021.