Hazard Mitigation Plan for Allamakee County available for public review and comment until January 3
Allamakee County and its jurisdictions have worked diligently over the last year and a half to complete an update to a comprehensive Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management, provided grant funds for the planning process, which was lead by the Allamakee County Emergency Management Agency with assistance from Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission and a countywide Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee.
The Committee started working together in the summer of 2016. That process began by identifying the characteristics and potential consequences of hazards, and assessing vulnerabilities of communities and the county. After gaining an understanding of hazard risks, the Committee determined what the priorities should be and then looked at possible ways to avoid or minimize the undesired effects, culminating in a list of potential countywide hazard mitigation actions.
Planners visited each city in the county in the summer of 2017 for a public meeting to review and discuss local hazards. Information on each community’s hazard risks and response capabilities has been incorporated in the updated plan. City’s also had the opportunity to contribute information regarding what hazard mitigation actions could be pursued locally.
Beginning December 20, a draft of the Allamakee County Multi-Hazard Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJ-7) is available for review and comment on the Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission website, http://uerpc.org/comprehensive-planning-comments.html. Comments on the plan can be submitted on the website through Wednesday, January 3. Feedback will be incorporated in the plan, and the Allamakee County Board of Supervisors will consider approval of the plan at its Monday, January 8 meeting. The plan will then be forwarded to FEMA for review by January 19.
In the spring of 2018 planners will present the final hazard mitigation plan to each city and request their approval of the plan, with a final submission to FEMA by May. Additional information on the presentation of the final plan in each community will be provided at a later date.
For additional information on the plan, contact Michelle Barness, Regional Planner at Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, at 563-382-6171 or mbarness@uerpc.org, or Corey Snitker, Allamakee County Emergency Management Coordinator, at 563-568-4233 or csnitker@co.allamakee.ia.us.
