Local Mitigation Strategy - LMS

In 1998, St. Lucie County, the three municipalities within the County, the local business community, and non-profit organizations joined together to develop a countywide Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS). The purpose of the St. Lucie County LMS is to develop a unified approach among County and municipal governments for dealing with hazards and hazard mitigation challenges.  The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires the LMS Plan to be updated every five years.  St. Lucie County’s LMS Plan was updated in 2010.  

The LMS serves as a tool to direct the County and municipal governments in their ongoing efforts to reduce the vulnerabilities of their citizens to impacts produced by both natural and manmade hazards. The LMS also serves to establish funding priorities for mitigation and disaster assistance funds as may become available. For example, to assist in the recovery from Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne, the federal government made $13.7 million available to the county for mitigation projects to reduce potential impacts of future storms. Projects were chosen for this funding based upon priorities established by the St. Lucie County LMS Steering Committee and  the LMS process. Currently there are greater than  160  mitigation projects that have been identified by various agencies within the County.

The LMS Steering Committee has prioritized each of these projects. The policies and procedures of the LMS Steering Committee are delineated in the St. Lucie County Unified Local Mitigation Strategy. As specified in the St. Lucie County Unified Local Mitigation Strategy, representatives from the organizations serve on the LMS Steering Committee:

  • St. Lucie County
  • Port St. Lucie
  • Fort Pierce
  • St. Lucie Village
  • St. Lucie County School District
  • St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office
  • St. Lucie County Fire District
  • St. Lucie County Department of Health
  • St. Lucie County Public Safety
  • St. Lucie Transportation Planning Organization
  • American Red Cross
  • St. Lucie County Agricultural Extension – University of Florida
  • St. Lucie County Council on Aging
  • Fort Pierce Utility Authority (FPUA)
  • Port St. Lucie Utilities
  • St. Lucie County Utilities
  • Florida Power & Light
  • South Florida Water Management District
  • North St. Lucie River Water Control District and Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District (represented as one entity)
  • Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF)
  • Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council
  • Fort Pierce Housing Authority
  • INTACT
  • Radio Station designated as “Emergency Broadcaster (WQCS)
  • Any other special district, authority or company providing utility/public works services to more than 10% of the County population

 

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