Shawano and Menominee counties are working together to create a plan to prepare for potential disasters in the area.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all states and local governments to create hazard mitigation plans in order to qualify for federal grants.
Shawano and Menominee each have plans in place, developed with the help of Federal Emergency Management Agency grants. Now the counties are partnering to create a Shawano-Menominee Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The plan will look at the risks and vulnerabilities that the counties face from natural disasters, and develop strategies that might reduce future losses. The strategies can be as simple as promoting the use of weather radios or as comprehensive as strengthening critical facilities to prevent wind damage.
The counties have once again obtained FEMA funding to create a plan that will update and replace each of the county’s plans.
As part of the process, each county is assembling a workgroup to review and guide the planning activities. The workgroups will review the current plans and will begin identifying new information and hazard mitigation strategies for the update. Easterday said.
“I am very excited about this part of the planning process,” said Natalie Easterday, emergency management director for Shawano County. “The input from the workgroup can have long-lasting impacts, making Shawano County safer and more disaster-resistant.”
“The benefits of hazard mitigation planning have been proved to harden communities against disaster damages in a cost-beneficial way,” said Shelley Williams, emergency management director for Menominee County.
Area residents are needed to join the workgroups. To volunteer or obtain more information, call Easterday at 715-526-6774 or Williams at 715-799-5074.
Categories
