DATE OF FEMA DIRECTOR'S CAPE VISIT CHANGED

The Federal Emergency Management Agency confirmed last week that its director will visit Cape Girardeau early next month, but the date of the visit has been changed.

James Lee Witt will participate in a signing ceremony Feb. 5 to officially welcome the city into FEMA's Project Impact program. The ceremony, originally scheduled for Feb. 3, will be held at the Show Me Center.

Mike Cohen, an assistant to the FEMA director, confirmed the visit during a Thursday conference call with city officials.

Numerous state, local and federal officials have been invited to the ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. The public is also welcome.

Project Impact is intended to promote disaster preparedness in member communities. FEMA announced Cape Girardeau would be included in the program in June.

The city has been awarded a $500,000 grant through the program to help fund a number of disaster mitigation projects over the next two years.

While Witt is in town he is scheduled to tour various mitigation projects taking place. Project sites include the Cape LaCroix Creek-Walker Branch flood-control project and the Mississippi River flood-buyout areas.

Witt will also speak at the Chamber of Commerce's First Friday Coffee. That event will be at the Show Me Center at 7:30 a.m.

The gathering had been moved to the preceding Wednesday to accommodate the director's previous schedule but has been rescheduled to its original date.