Hamilton County Emergency Management recently signed a contract with MIDAS to update the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plans for the unincorporated area, as well as cities within the county. This will be an update to the most recent plan, completed in 2014.

This planning process is important in identifying the potential impacts of various hazards as well as mitigation actions and strategies which can be implemented to reduce the negative impacts caused by natural, technological, and human-caused hazards within each community as well as the region. In addition, updating this plan is a federal requisite for participating jurisdictions to become or remain eligible for FEMA funding.

The first public planning meeting will be held Jan. 30 at 6 p.m. in the basement of the Hamilton County Courthouse, Webster City.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan process requires that public input is actively sought, including the development of a Planning Committee. Each jurisdiction is responsible for identifying individuals from a community to represent a jurisdiction on the committee. Typical representatives include:

• Mayor, council members, city administrator/city clerk/deputy clerk, public works, parks and recreation, police/law Enforcement ¯ Fire Department ¯ Planning and Zoning ¯ Building Official ¯ Waste Management ¯ Emergency Medical services, schools, libraries, the health department and other interested citizens.

Upon completion of the planning sessions, the final draft update will be presented to the Emergency Management Commission for recommendation and then on to the Board of Supervisors for adoption prior to submission to the Iowa Emergency Management Division and Federal Emergency Management Agency for review and approval. Ultimately, each participating jurisdiction will be asked to adopt the plan as well. More specifics regarding requirements will be explained at future meetings.