Mitigation Plan 

The Oklahoma State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by Governor Henry and the Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 6 office on February 16, 2005. It wasthe third enhanced state hazard mitigation plan in the nation approved by FEMA following reviews by state and federal hazard mitigation experts.

The Oklahoma State Enhanced Mitigation Plan provides policy guidance for hazard mitigation in the state of Oklahoma. It identifies hazard mitigation goals, objectives, actions and initiatives for state government that will reduce injury and damage from natural hazards. Agency annexes to the plan provide strategies for participating state agencies that will improve their resistance to the effects of a natural hazard-caused disaster.

This plan meets requirements for a Standard State Plan under Interim Final Rule 44 CFR 201.4, published in the Federal Register by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on February 28, 2002, and for an Enhanced State Plan under Intermin Final Rule 44 CFR 201.5, also published in the Federal Register by FEMA on February 28, 2002.

Meeting the requirements of the regulations cited above keeps the state of Oklahoma as well as all eligible local jurisdictions and non-profit organizations that provide like-government services qualified to obtain disaster assistance including hazard mitigation grants available through the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, P.L. 93-288, as amended. The enhanced portion of the plan allows the state to seek significantly higher funding for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program following Presidentially declared disasters (20 percent of federal disaster expenditures vs.  fifteen (15) percent with a standard plan). The enhanced portion of the plan also allows a 5 percent leverage for Pre-Disaster Mitigation applicants within the state.

The State Hazard Mitigation Plan must be updated every three years in order for the State of Oklahoma to remain eligible for disaster assistance and grant funding.  The current update has now been completed and submitted to FEMA for approval.