cover
TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Natalie E. Wiza, Emergency Management Coordinator
DATE: August 30, 2024
SUBJECT:
Requesting the adoption of the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
PURPOSE:
Adoption of the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan will allow the City of Aurora to (1) ensure Aurora can qualify for federal funding before and after a disaster occurs, (2) identify and analyze threats and hazards within the city, (3) develop strategies to ensure a collaborative and comprehensive approach to mitigation, (4) develop intergovernmental partnerships, and (5) gain public insight and information, increasing resident knowledge, and increasing city preparedness against natural threats and hazards.
BACKGROUND:
The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, is intended to, "reduce the loss of life and property, human suffering, economic disruption, and disaster assistance costs resulting from natural disasters." Under this legislation, state, tribal, and local governments must develop a natural hazard mitigation plan as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance through the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs.
DISCUSSION:
This natural hazard mitigation plan is a community-driven, living document encouraging the community and government to integrate mitigation measures with day-to-day decision-making regarding land use planning, floodplain management, site design, and other functions. The 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan is an investment in Aurora's future, safety, and sustainability allowing us to act now to reduce impacts of natural disasters and the changing climate.
The City of Aurora has adopted the Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan since 2003, and history shows that natural hazard mitigation planning and the implementation of risk reduction activities can significantly reduce the physical, financial, and emotional losses caused by disasters, thus increasing resiliency community wide.
Putting the plan into action will be an ongoing collaborative process between Emergency Management, Public Works, and Development Services that may include initiating and completing mitigation projects and integrating mitigation strategies into other community plans and programs. Furthermore, completion of projects is subject to funding and staffing available.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Failure to adopt the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan will make the City of Aurora ineligible for hazard mitigation funding before or after a disaster.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval to adopt the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
cc: Public Health, Transportation, and Safety Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution to adopt the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the County of Kane is subject to flooding, tornadoes, winter storms, and other natural hazards that can damage property; close businesses, disrupt traffic, and present public health and safety hazards; and
WHEREAS, pro-active mitigation of known hazards before and after a disaster event can reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property; and
WHEREAS, the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) established new requirements for pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation programs; and
WHEREAS to remain eligible to receive mitigation monies, Kane County prepared a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for the County and all communities in the County; and
WHEREAS, a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan for Kane County has been required by FEMA since November 2003 in support of state and federal mitigation grant funding; and
WHEREAS, on 01-28-2003 the City Council of the City of Aurora passed Resolution No. R03-50 adopting the Kane County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Emergency Management Agency requires that the Kane County Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan be updated in its entirety every five years; and
WHEREAS, Kane County and the City of Aurora have participated in and completed a planning process that engages the public, assesses the risk and vulnerability to the impacts of hazards, develops a mitigation strategy consistent with a set of uniform goals, and creates a plan for implementing, evaluating and revising this strategy; and
WHEREAS, the Kane County Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee has updated the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency has reviewed and conditionally approved the Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan pending county and city adoption; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Aurora Code Chapter 14 Emergency Management Agency Section 14-3(b)(1)(2) the Aurora Emergency Management Agency cooperates with all city departments to implement a mitigation strategy to reduce hazards and increase resilience through analysis of hazard risk and development or revision of emergency plans and procedures, and development or revision of supplemental and supporting documents to the city emergency operations plan.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: (1) we adopt in its entirety the 2024 Kane County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, and specifically Volume II of the plan as it pertains to the City of Aurora, (2) the responsible departments will use the adopted and approved plan to guide pre- and post-disaster mitigation of the hazards identified, (3) the Emergency Management Agency will coordinate the strategies identified in the plan with other planning programs and mechanisms under its jurisdictional authority, (4) the responsible departments will continue its support of the Hazard Mitigation Steering Committee and continue to participate in the planning partnership as described by the plan, (5) the responsible departments will help to promote and support the mitigation successes of all planning partners, and (6) the completion of Action Items in Volume II contained in this plan are subject to fiscal and staff time constraints.