| On Wednesday, April 11 at the Harford Fire Hall, the Susquehanna County Department of Planning and Development and the Susquehanna County Emergency Management Agency held their first of two public meetings as part of the development of a hazard mitigation plan, as required by an act of Congress. Susquehanna County, acting on behalf of and in collaboration with the municipalities in the County, will take the lead in developing the hazard mitigation plan. However, it is critical that townships and boroughs participate in and shape the planning process and eventually adopt the plan. Once the plan is drafted, it will be forwarded to the Pennsylvania Energy Management Agency (PEMA) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for review and approval. Upon approval and adoption of the plan, Susquehanna County and the municipalities that participate in the planning process will be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds - - funds for projects that reduce or eliminate the impacts of disasters. Though the planning process is completely voluntary, any municipality that elects not to participate in the process or adopt the plan will not be eligible for mitigation grants. The mitigation funds can be used for “buy-outs”, the acquisition of flood-damaged and flood destroyed property.
The hazard mitigation planning process offers Susquehanna County and the townships and boroughs within the County the opportunity to assess community development against the lens of natural hazards. Over the last four decades, Susquehanna County has endured 22 major floods, and the losses are no longer sustainable. Unmitigated natural hazards threaten the social and economic well being of every resident and business with the County and must be addressed through a thoughtful and inclusive planning process.
During the April 11 meeting, a PowerPoint presentation was made outlining the purpose and goals of a hazard mitigation plan, the roles and responsibilities of municipal, County, State, and federal governments in the planning process, and the timeline for completing the development of the plan.
Because of the very small window of opportunity complete the plan; the process will travel at a brisk pace.
The timeline for the planning process is:
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- April 11, 2007, Kick-off Meeting
- April 23, 2007, All Municipal Forms Completed and Returned to Susquehanna Co EMA
- Week of April 23, Capability Assessment Mtgs. with Municipalities
- May 4, 2007 First Draft of Plan Distributed for Comment
- May 9, 2007, Second Public Meeting
- May 10, 2007 Comment Period for First Draft Closes
- May 14, 2007, Second Draft of Plan Distributed for Comment
- May 18, 2007, Comment Period for Second Draft Closes
- May 24, 2007 Final Draft of Plan to PEMA/FEMA for Approval
- End of May/Early June, County and Municipalities Adopt Plan
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