The Waldo County Emergency Management Agency has initiated an effort to update the County Hazard Mitigation Plan using the guidelines as provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The purpose of a Hazard Mitigation Plan is to assess the county's risk to likely disasters, inventory critical infrastructure and special need populations, and develop goals and strategies to lessen the impacts of a potential disaster. Examples of disaster mitigation include floodplain management, whereby new construction in floodplains is limited, and the upgrading of storm water management systems along our roadways.

"An important aspect of the Hazard Mitigation Planning process is the involvement of the public in the revision of the County Plan," said Dale Rowley, Director of the Waldo County EMA program, in a news release. "Inputs from all municipalities and all interested citizens are vital in order to make this plan work."
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ounty residents, businesses, non-profit groups, and municipal officials with knowledge of past disaster events, repetitive areas of repair after storms and floods, and locations of critical facilities and utilities and special needs populations that could be impacted by a disaster are strongly encouraged to provide that information to the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team hosted by the Waldo County EMA office.

A Public Hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 22, at 6 p.m. in the County EMA office.

For more information, contact  Rowley, 338-3870, or by email at emadirector@waldocountyme.gov; http://www.waldocountyme.gov/ema or write or visit the office at 4 Public Safety Way, Belfast, ME 04915.