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Project Impact - Minimizing the Negative Impact of Natural Hazards
Despite great strides by many communities over the last several years to develop strategies and projects to deal with the natural hazard threat, many communities continue to remain highly vulnerable to the economic loss, social disruption and loss of life caused by natural disasters. In order to address this potential disaster loss in Clearwater County, business leaders, local officials and citizens throughout our county are coming together under the Project Impact initiative.
At the heart of Project Impact is the concept of natural hazard mitigation, which is defined as sustained action taken to permanently reduce the loss of life and property resulting from natural hazards through long-term strategies comprised of planning, policies, programs and projects. Hazard mitigation seeks to reduce property damage and safeguard critical facilities in the event of a disaster. In this regard, hazard mitigation is economically justifiable because it seeks to avoid future losses. These losses usually dwarf the up-front costs of mitigation and decrease our need to respond to a disaster versus simply improving our ability to respond.
Project Impact is a nationwide initiative, sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
History of Clearwater County Project Impact
In August of 2001,Clearwater County contracted with FEMA to begin this mitigation process. Clearwater Economic Development Association (CEDA) was hired to coordinate planning and project implementation. On Sept. 18, 2002, 16 Stakeholders gathered for the "kick off" Steering Committee meeting. Since then, over 60 local individuals have been involved with the Project Impact initiative!
Currently, the Clearwater County Project Impact Steering Committee is working with five subcommittees, organized by focus area: Wildfire, Flood, Landslide, Storm Water and Public Awareness.
We will be providing additional information about their committee`s activities on this web site in the near future.
Interested in Becoming Involved with Project Impact?
If you are interested in being a part of making our community more disaster resistant call:
Clearwater County Emergency Management Office--476-4815 or
Christine Frei, Clearwater County Project Impact Coordinator--(208) 746-0015--email: clfrei@lewiston.com | 
