Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan

For Immediate Release: Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Community Survey on Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan

Washington County is currently in the process of updating its Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan to answer questions like:

How would an earthquake or flood impact Washington County? Are there culturally significant buildings that might be at risk? What can the county do to reduce the risk for elderly or school-age populations before a disaster occurs?

Some of the update process is technical and involves scientific information, and County staff are working on those aspects. But there is important information about the community that only county residents, employees, volunteers or involved citizens can provide.

The link below is a survey designed to gather information about how vulnerable the unincorporated parts of Washington County may be to natural hazards such as earthquakes, floods and wind or winter storms. Click to take the survey:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/WashingtonCountyNaturalHazardsPlan

Please take a few minutes to respond to the survey. It should take about 15 or 20 minutes.

Background:
In 2004, Washington County adopted a Natural Hazards Mitigation Action Plan. The purpose of this plan is to provide assistance in reducing risk, preventing loss, and protecting life, property and the environment from future natural hazard events. The original plan can be found at www.ocem.org.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that the Mitigation Plan be updated every five years. Also, changes in the County since 2004 – shifting demographics, new development, and additional scientific information about natural hazards – make it important to update the Mitigation Plan.

Contact:
Mary Davis, Washington County Emergency Management Coordinator, [email protected]

Media Contact: