RUMFORD – Selectmen unanimously adopted an Oxford County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan on Thursday night, an action that ensures the town will be eligible for federal funds whenever a natural disaster hits.

Rumford, like other towns in the county, had to submit several ideas that would lessen the possibility of flooding or road washouts. The Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments put together the proposal.

Those projects, largely submitted by public works director Andy Russell, include: extensive ditching, drainage, installation of culverts and other work on the Red Hill road in Rumford Center at an estimated cost of $133,000; stabilization of the Swift River bank at the picnic area; installation of larger culverts on the Swain Road; installation of new culverts and the raising of the access road to the town well off Route 5; and maintaining a lower water level at Mount Zircon Dam off the South Rumford Road.

Russell said his crew has done some of the work on the projects, but most won’t be done until Federal Emergency Management Agency grants come through. He said that won’t happen for at least a year.

Town Manager Robert Welch said adoption of the plan was necessary so the town can apply for funding to do the projects. Also, he said, the plan is critical to enabling the town to be reimbursed for damage whenever the state declares a disaster, such as during heavy snowstorms.

Each Oxford County town must produce plans for town-maintained roads. State roads are not the responsibility of individual towns.