Chilton County is among 16 Alabama communities that received Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) hazard mitigation reimbursements, which were announced April 22 by the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA).

The grants are administered by the AEMA and are paying for ongoing projects designed to reduce disaster losses and protect life and property from future disaster damages in Alabama.

Chilton County will receive $298 in a Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) for planning.

“The money that we will get is the money left over from a grant we received last year,” said Bill Collum, Chilton County EMA Director. “We received a larger grant, and this is how much we saved them. We didn’t spend all of it so they are sending what is left back. It’s a pretty standard thing.”

The Chilton County EMA hired a contractor to write their Emergency Operation Plan, a plan listing all types of disasters that could occur in Chilton County, and if they do occur, how to respond.

The county EMA also had a hazard mitigation plan written, which identified things that need to be done in the county, like building tornado shelters, Collum said.

Most grant payments administered were a part of HMGP funds resulting from Hurricane Katrina.