County invites residents to Local Mitigation Strategy workshop 

Input will help shape 5-year update to County’s Hazards Mitigation Plan

Pinellas County invites residents and business owners to participate in a Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) workshop on Monday, April 15, from 6-8 p.m. at Lealman Exchange, 5175 45th Street N., St. Petersburg.

The workshop will showcase the County’s LMS, which identifies natural and man-made hazards that threaten the area, such as floods, hurricanes and chemical spills. The LMS also sets goals and outlines actions that can reduce or prevent the loss of life, property and other resources from these threats. Attendees can share observations and concerns about how these hazards impact their communities so County staff can improve the plan.

The workshop will include information booths representing County departments and their community partners that specialize in a variety of mitigation topics such as floodplain management, hurricane preparedness and post-disaster recovery resources. Experts in these areas will work with attendees to identify their flood zones and hurricane evacuation zones, evaluate their risk for flooding, and better prepare them for emergencies.

The workshop is the first step in the five-year update of the County’s plan, which is required by federal law. Updating the plan keeps the County and its municipalities eligible for federal hazard mitigation grants. The LMS plan also serves as the County’s Floodplain Management Plan, which helps property owners at participating jurisdictions receive flood insurance premium discounts through the National Flood Insurance Program’s Community Rating System.

For more information about the Local Mitigation Strategy, visit www.pinellaslms.org.