The City of Biloxi is launching a public outreach program to update plans to deal with natural or man-made disasters and help alleviate flooding or reduce flooding.
It’s all part of a national effort mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and will ensure that Biloxi remains eligible for relief money to recover from disasters, and may l help further reduce flood insurance rates for Biloxians.
Biloxi’s program will include holding three public meetings to explain the city’s plans and to gather input from residents. Those meetings will be held Feb. 4 (Center Stage Theater in west Biloxi), Feb. 6 (Biloxi Community Center, Howard Avenue) and Feb. 7 Woolmarket Community Center. Each meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
The city has also formed two committees to help formulate two plans: a Hazard Mitigation Committee, which is primarily made up of local government and business leaders who would be impacted by disasters, including emergency services, utility companies and major employers; and a flood committee, which is made up of residents whose property is susceptible to flooding. Both committees will meet regularly to help the city prepare a Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is mandated by the Mississippi and Federal emergency management agencies.
“The big committee will address issues such as chemical spills, either on rail or road; and identify potential hazards and how we’ll do with them,” Mayor A.J. Holloway said. “Our goal is to minimize the impact on life and property. As far as the flood committee, we’ve done a lot of infrastructure work in Biloxi in the past several years. And as a result of our work, our residents have gotten a 10 percent decrease in flood insurance rates. We want to keep working in that direction, and this outreach effort will help us devise a good plan. “What we’d like to see in the meantime is for residents to attend these outreach meetings, see what plans we have in place, and give us their input.”
Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee
Linda Atterberry, Director of Biloxi Civil Defense
Chief Administrative Officer Jim Borsig
Steve Delahousey, American Medial Response
Dr. Larry Drawdy, Biloxi Public Schools
Biloxi Police Chief Bruce Dunagan.
Harrison County Supervisor Bobby Eleuterius
Nicky Filipich, Public Works Dept.
Bill Gleason, CSX Railroad
Jimmy Gouras, consultant
Mayor A.J. Holloway
Dave Kingman, Mississippi Gaming Commission
Beverly Martin, Gulf Coast Gaming Association
David Mauffray, Mississippi Power Co.
Zach Melvin, floodplain manager, City of Biloxi
Michele Moore, Mayor’s Office/FEMA liaison
Kamron Pahlavan, Harrison County Wastewater and Sold Waste Management District
Jim Paulk, Jimmy Gouras Urban Planning Consultants
Harrison County Sheriff George Payne
Biloxi Fire Chief David Roberts
Harrison County Supervisor Connie Rockco
Hank Rogers, Community Development, Building Division
Richard Rose, Harrison County Project Impact Coordinator
Linda Rouse, Director of Harrison County Civil Defense
BellSouth District Manager Rick Stewart
Richard Sullivan, ECO Resources
Larry Tabor, Keesler Air Force Base
Jeff Taylor, Gulf Regional Planning Commission
Bobby Weaver, Harrison County Sand Beach director
Flood Committee members
Mr. Bernard Carlson
Mr. Tom Ferrill
Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Gross
Mr. Sammy Handler
Mr. Lloyd Hulsey
Ms. Magda Leleaux
Ms. Annette Metz
Gen. Bryan Shotts
Ms. Johnnie Smith
Mr. & Mrs. Randall Soboul
Ms. Wanda Stowell
Mrs. Lena Theriot
