Texas A&M University’s College of Architecture has launched the Texas Mitigation Planning Initiative, a $2.9 million program designed to help rural communities prepare for disasters. The initiative aims to assist jurisdictions in developing or updating hazard mitigation plans that identify steps to reduce damage before disasters occur.
Over the next three years, the program will work with at least three rural regions across Texas. Each selected region will bring together multiple communities to create plans that are ready for approval and easier to update in the future. The project is led by Jaimie Hicks Masterson, director and principal investigator of the initiative.
Funding is provided by the Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.
Masterson stated that the project is focused on saving lives and limiting property damage. She noted that with growing populations and development, rural Texans need technical support to reduce disaster loss. The initiative aligns with Texas A&M’s land-grant mission to provide public service to communities in need.
Hazard mitigation plans help communities identify actions to reduce risk and future damage. These plans also open eligibility for certain federal funding opportunities when a disaster occurs. In many cases, a mitigation project must be included in an approved plan before a community can apply for funding to carry it out.
For smaller rural communities, managing this process alone can be difficult. Masterson explained that some local governments operate with limited staff, where one official may juggle emergency management, public works, and other responsibilities. This can leave little time for the coordination and public input required to complete a plan.
