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for low-to-moderate-income families. However, as a result of a Presidential declared disaster, <br />CDBG funds may be used for long-term needs such as acquisition, reconstruction, and <br />redevelopment of disaster-affected areas. <br /> <br />O. Ability to Pay <br /> <br /> 1. In recognition of the disparate economic prosperity of the State's one hundred <br />counties, the North Carolina Department of Commerce ranks counties in an economic tier <br />system. The impetus for this system was the William S. Lee Quality Jobs and Business <br />Expansion Act of 1996 which provides for a sliding scale of state tax credits for economic <br />investment. The Lee Act has become the state's main development tool in an effort to help <br />smaller rural counties be more economically competitive. <br /> <br /> 2. The most economically distressed counties are ranked in Tier 1 and the most <br />economically prosperous in Tier 5. The rankings are evaluated annually using three factors - <br />population growth, unemployment rate, and per capita income. The 2001 County Tier <br />Designation places Cabarms County in Tier 5. The tier ranking is now widely used by the State <br />as a measure of an individual county's ability to pay when applying for state and federal grants. <br /> <br /> P. Technical Capability. Effective hazard mitigation initiatives depend largely on a <br />community's technical capability. Local governments such as Cabarms County typically have <br />limited technical capability due to a lack of funding and human resources. There are, however, <br />several technical sources available at the county level, at the University of North Carolina at <br />Charlotte, and at State and Federal levels of government. <br /> <br />Q. Cabarms County <br /> <br /> 1. Cabarrus County operates a geographic information'system (GIS) that provides <br />essential information and technology for hazard response and mitigation. The GIS system <br />provides detailed data on property ownership, land use type, and location. GIS allows this <br />information to be displayed visually to assist in hazard mitigation planning. <br /> <br /> 2. The GIS provides fast access to and processing of detailed data that can be used to <br />assist in deployment of resources before, during, and after a natural disaster. The system also <br />permits data and visual analysis of the impacts of past storm events thereby assisting in planning <br />for mitigation of future natural disasters. <br /> <br /> R. University of North Carolina at Charlotte. The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, <br />one of the sixteen campuses of the North Carolina University System, is located a few miles <br />southwest of Cabarrus County. The university can provide information and resources to assist <br />the development of mitigation initiatives. <br /> <br /> S. State and Federal Agencies. <br /> 1. Agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management ASsociation (FEMA) and the <br />North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCDEM) have made available mnumerous <br />implementation manuals and other resource documents. These manuals provide information on <br />mitigation techniques for various hazards, including hurricanes, floods, wildfires, tornadoes and <br />earthquakes. <br /> <br />Draft Annex C v.3 C-7 1 June 2002 <br /> <br /> <br />