CAPE PRESENTS AWARDS FROM PROJECT IMPACT

Cape Girardeau has lessened the potential impacts of a tornado, earthquake or flood thanks to help from Project Impact.

The grant-funded program that originated with the Federal Emergency Management Agency marked its second year in Cape Girardeau with an annual luncheon and awards ceremony Tuesday at the Osage Community Centre.

Procter & Gamble Co. and Westfield Shoppingtown West Park received the outstanding business award. The Cape Girardeau Fire Department and Southeast Missouri State University received the award for outstanding public agency. The Area Wide United Way received the award for outstanding non-profit agency, and Harry King received the outstanding volunteer award.

Cape Girardeau was chosen as the first Project Impact disaster-resistant city in Missouri in 1998. Since then, city officials and businesses have worked on ways to lessen the effects of a natural disaster.