In 2010, CSA International, Inc. (CSA) assisted the Richland Parish Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness in updating their 2006 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan in accordance with the 2008 FEMA requirements for local mitigation plans.  The project involved reviewing and revising the existing Hazard Mitigation Plan to reflect changes in development and progress in implementing the mitigation actions set out in the existing Plan.  A major focus was on man-made hazards such as liquid natural gas pipeline explosions and chemical spills.  Richland Parish has numerous liquid national gas pipelines that have exploded in the past, resulting in death and damage to infrastructure.

Over the course of the project, CSA assisted the Parish in addressing public involvement requirements, incorporating the Parish into the National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP’s) Community Rating System, using HAZUS loss estimation for risk assessment, ensuring consistency with the Louisiana State Hazard Mitigation Plan, and providing an overview and analysis of land uses and types of development within the community relative to the hazard risk zones.  The Richland Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan Update has received approval from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and has been adopted by the Richland Parish Police Jury as well as its municipalities.  The State of Louisiana Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is submitting the Richland Parish Plan to FEMA as an example of a plan that not only meets but exceeds the new FEMA Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan requirements.