WAKULLA County Fla.-- The Florida Division of Emergency Management has named Wakulla county's "Local Mitigation Strategy" as a "Top Tier" plan.
The strategy finds ways the county can reduce damage from hazards like hurricanes, floods and wildfires. This includes raising the heights of homes and adding more storage for storm water.
Commissioner Dr. Howard Kessler says incorporating the county's plans into a statewide manual shows Florida's need to adopt smarter and more efficient strategies.
"Really, the state is saying, 'listen, we've done things this way for a long time, it's time to start appreciating that we need to do things a little better and I think the state's first step is to bring awareness to this and with that awareness will come better development," said Kessler.
The Board of County Commissioners adopted the strategy, which was prepared by Tallahassee-based Disaster Strategies and Ideas Group (DSI), in March of this year.
The county's Emergency Management Director, Scott Nelson, says a working group of private citizens and local officials also helped develop the plan.
"It's just a testament to the county. It's not just emergency management. It wasn't just DSI. It was many members of this county and this community that came together to be a part of that process," said Nelson.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management will list the county's local mitigation strategy on its website.
