What is Mitigation?
Mitigation aims to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. The goal of mitigation is to make our community safer, stronger, and more resilient.
Lee County protects its people, neighborhoods, beaches, businesses, highways, and everything in between through mitigation planning and projects. An example of mitigation is the installation of better drainage to reduce street flooding. Mitigation planning occurs every day, year-round.
Lee County Emergency Management experts use guidance from the state and federal government, study how industries reduce risks and hazards, and incorporate lessons learned to develop better mitigation strategies for the community.
What is the Joint Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS)?
The Joint Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) is a plan that helps Lee County identify hazards and reduce the risk they pose to people and property. The strategy includes both short-term and long-term projects.
Every five years, the LMS is updated and reviewed by the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Once reviewed, it is adopted by the Lee Board of County Commissioners, each Lee County municipality, and Florida Gulf Coast University.
Click to read the 2022 Lee County Joint Unified Local Mitigation Strategy.
How is the Strategy Updated?
Lee County Emergency Management collaborates with community partners to ensure that the strategy is progressing in the right direction. These partners collectively form the Local Mitigation Strategy Working Group. The group convenes regularly to maintain the momentum of mitigation plans and to monitor ongoing projects. Mitigation projects may include:
- Road/bridge improvement projects
- Creating wildfire buffers around development in vulnerable areas
- Public information and outreach programs that educate the community on disaster risk, preparedness, and mitigation.
The Joint Local Mitigation Strategy includes a multi-year Mitigation Action Plan and a list of mitigation projects, which are reviewed and updated quarterly.
Where to Get More Information?
The Department of Public Safety/Emergency Management also produces additional documents on managing emergencies.