What is a Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan
A post-disaster redevelopment plan (PDRP) is a requirement of all Florida coastal counties and municipalities, and is encouraged for inland communities. It identifies how a community will redevelop and recover long-term after a disaster. The plan covers policies, operational strategies, and roles and responsibilities for implementation that will guide decisions that affect long-term recovery and redevelopment of the community after a disaster. The plan emphasizes seizing opportunities for hazard mitigation and community improvement, in line with the goals of the local comprehensive plan and with full participation of the citizens.
Recovery topics addressed in the plan include business resumption and economic redevelopment, housing repair and reconstruction, infrastructure restoration and mitigation, short-term recovery actions that affect long-term redevelopment, sustainable land use, environmental restoration, and financial considerations as well as other long-term recovery issues identified by the community.
There are many reasons to develop a PDRP and even more to maintain and
implement it. Hillsborough County is vulnerable to the impacts of hurricanes,
including storm surge, flooding, and hurricane-force winds. Major hurricanes
have hit Hillsborough County, as witnessed by the 1921
hurricane. And technical slosh
models have shown that major coastal storm surge would greatly effect
Hillsborough County. The County's
Local Mitigation Strategy details these risks and identifies pre-disaster
projects to mitigate hazard impacts.
A PDRP would build upon these efforts by developing a strategy for achieving a faster and more disaster-resilient long-term recovery. A disaster, while tragic, can also create opportunities to better the community. As we watch the continuing recovery of the Gulf Coast from Hurricane Katrina, it is clear that having an organized, planned approach to dealing with long-term recovery before a disaster strikes puts communities in a better position to more rapidly recover in a sustainable manner.
Hillsborough County As A Pilot Community
Hillsborough County has been chosen by the State as one of five communities to participate in a pilot program through their Post-Disaster Redevelopment Planning Initiative. The plans developed in this process will serve as models for the rest of the State. The Florida Department of Community Affairs and Division of Emergency Management are providing technical assistance and planning services funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the project. They will assist us and the other pilot communities in developing cutting edge post-disaster redevelopment plans.
The Board of County Commissioners approved this project by executing a memorandum of agreement for the project with the Florida Division of Emergency Management on May 28, 2008. It will allow Hillsborough County to complete long-term post-disaster recovery planning that we have been working on for many years. The Hillsborough County PDRP is expected to be completed during the Spring of 2009 and, after public comment, will be recommended for adoption by the Board of County Commissioners. The draft PDRP is expected to be officially approved by the County Commission in 2009.
Let Us Know What You Think
During this process their will be many opportunities for the public to participate and provide input. If you would like to participate in the Stakeholder Group, ask a question or make a comment on the process, please fill out the Public Comment Form.
If you would like to be notified of upcoming stakeholder or public meetings or receive updates on this process, please sign-up for email updates.
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