Submitted By: Austin Cash
Presentation By: Sean Lanier
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Department: Engineering
FORMAL TITLE:
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Local Mitigation Strategy 2025 Annual Report
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) Steering Committee must submit an annual report to the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM). Additionally, to maintain its Insurance Service Office (ISO) rating for flooding, the City of Ocala (City) is required under the Community Rating System (CRS) to submit an annual evaluation report on the LMS projects to the City Council and to review the plan's implementation.
Attached is a letter from the City Engineer regarding the implementation of the City’s LMS projects. Also attached is the LMS 2025 annual report submitted to FDEM by the LMS Steering Committee and coordinated by Marion County.
Following Hurricane Irma, in 2018 the City of Ocala received funding for three LMS projects from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the Public Assistance Hazard Mitigation Grant program.
Construction on the Northeast 16th Avenue Drainage project started on July 15, 2024, and was completed in October 2024. A final inspection by FDEM was requested in April 2024. The grant closeout phase is underway.
Construction of the Lift Station Generators and Manhole Lid Improvements project started on April 16, 2023, and substantial completion was issued in March 2025. TECO Peoples Gas is currently installing gas service to the last four natural gas generator locations. Once the gas service is installed and the generators are commissioned, the project will be complete.
The Fisher Park Lift Station Generator and Flood Project started construction on March 11, 2024, and was completed on September 1, 2025. The grant agreement is currently in the closeout phase.