A. In addition to other responsibilities and duties specified by law, the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management:

1. Shall develop and maintain flood hazard mitigation measures for this state, as a component of the state’s comprehensive hazard mitigation plan and consistent with the flood hazard mitigation plans of the federal government to the fullest possible extent. The Department shall coordinate and encourage the development and publication of flood hazard mitigation plans by political subdivisions to ensure that such political subdivision plans are consistent with the flood hazard mitigation measures in the comprehensive hazard mitigation plan of this state to the fullest possible extent;

2. Shall provide guidance, information and training sufficient to allow political subdivisions to request state and federal natural disaster assistance;

3. Shall coordinate the development and maintenance of flood hazard mitigation projects with other state and federal programs;

4. Shall set mitigation priorities based upon recommendations of the State Hazard Mitigation Team;

5. May, after recommendation from the State Hazard Mitigation Team, approve applications for grants and loans to political subdivisions for flood hazard mitigation projects from any funds available for such purposes pursuant to the considerations specified by Section 690.4 of this title;

6. Shall evaluate, after recommendation from the State Hazard Mitigation Team, and award grant or loan applications based upon minimum eligibility criteria and state priorities;

7. Shall be the initial recipient of applications for loans and grants for flood hazard mitigation activities from political subdivisions; and

8. Shall have the State Hazard Mitigation Team meet as needed to review loan and grant applications and provide recommendations thereon to the Department.

B. The Department shall be the lead agency and shall compile and submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency an application to receive funds pursuant to the Flood Hazard Mitigation Financial Assistance Program, the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or any other flood assistance programs, and other public or private planning or project grants to implement measures to reduce flood losses.

C. The Department shall also have authority to:

1. Establish advisory councils with sufficient geographic balance to ensure statewide representation;

2. Coordinate central files and clearinghouse procedures for flood hazard mitigation resource data information and encourage the use of compatible information and standards; and

3. Provide to the extent practicable financial, technical, research, and other assistance to effectuate the purposes of the Oklahoma Flood Hazard Mitigation Program.

D. The Department shall promulgate, by rule, procedures and criteria for the evaluation of grant and subgrant applications that seek to receive a portion of those funds made available to this state for flood hazard mitigation.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 57, § 9, eff. July 1, 1999. Amended by Laws 2003, c. 329, § 50, emerg. eff. May 29, 2003.