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 LMS is to serve 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 its LMS process. Currently there are greater than 100 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 Board
  • American Red Cross
  • Salvation Army
  • St. Lucie County Agricultural Extension – University of Florida
  • Adelphia
  • Comcast
  • Chamber of Commerce
  • St. Lucie County Council on Aging
  • St. Lucie Medical Center
  • Lawnwood Hospital
  • St. Lucie County Builders Association
  • Fort Pierce Utility Authority (FPUA)
  • South Florida Water Management District
  • LBFH Inc.
  • St. Lucie Water Control District
  • North St. Lucie River Water Control District
  • Florida Division of Forestry (FDOF)
  • St. Lucie County Health Department
  • St. Lucie County Fire District
  • St. Lucie County Tourism Commitee

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