Eight counties | 36 cities | one region

MARIES COUNTY—The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) have both approved the recently completed Maries County Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The purpose of the plan is to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards. It is required that the county have this plan in place in order to be eligible for several Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs.

Several entities participated in the planning process to build the plan, including the Maries County Commission,City of Belle, City of Vienna, Maries R-I School District and Maries R-II School District. The Meramec Regional Planning Commission (MRPC) assisted these entities in drafting the plan.

Following a public comment period last year, a final draft was created and sent to FEMA and SEMA for review and approval.

The Maries County Commission and city governments and school districts within Maries County are now in the process of adopting the new plan.

Formed in 1969, MRPC is a voluntary council of governments serving Crawford, Dent, Gasconade, Maries, Osage, Phelps, Pulaski and Washington counties and their respective cities. A professional staff of 20, directed by the MRPC board, offers technical assistance and services, such as grant preparation and administration, housing assistance, transportation planning, environmental planning, ordinance codification, business loans and other services to member communities.

To keep up with the latest MRPC news and events, visit the MRPC website at meramecregion.org or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/meramecregion