ROCKLAND — With the 2019 Knox County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) expiring in August of 2024, Knox County Emergency Management has started the process of working on the 2024 HMP Update. Once the plan is approved by FEMA and adopted by the individual municipalities as their own hazard mitigation plan, those municipalities will be eligible for certain federal funding.

Knox County EMA is holding the official “kick-off” meeting for the 2024 HMP Update process on Wednesday, February 21, 2024, at 5 p.m., at the Knox County Emergency Management Agency offices, at 301 Park Street, in Rockland (in the Knox County Public Safety Building). This meeting is intended to be an informative session for the general public, to educate the community on the purpose of the plan, how the municipalities are involved in the process, and the need for the entire community to have the opportunity to provide input.

A Zoom option is available for those who would rather participate remotely, using this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/8123213023?omn=84466820312.

In the near future, a survey (both online and hard copies) will be made available to the public to help municipal and county officials understand the concerns of the community, according to Knox County EMA, in news  release.

“With all the damaging storms we have gone through in the last several years, public participation is even more important than ever,” said Knox EMA.

This is a public meeting and everyone is welcome.