WESTFIELD—The Hazard Mitigation Committee held its second public information session Wednesday evening, to discuss changes to the plan and get more public feedback before the plan’s final edit.
The committee, along with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC), is looking to update the city’s hazard mitigation plan, which is expired by FEMA standards. The plan is set in most municipalities in order to limit the amount of long-term effect an emergency or disaster can have in an area.
The plan was last updated in 2008. According to FEMA standards, the plan must be updated every five years in order to qualify for FEMA and MEMA grants to help fund many hazard mitigation projects, like dam and levy repairs, flood control equipment, snow removal and hazard preparedness. However, if a disaster were to strike, FEMA and MEMA would still assist Westfield, even if the hazard mitigation plan has expired.
The committee had several pieces within the plan that were updated, either because residents made suggestions, committees and other officials made suggestions, or both. The question of course, is funding, since many of the projects will cost money.
“Some of the big projects the city hopes to pursue, they’re in the plan that they will be done in five years, but the question is if the funding is there,” Ashley Eaton, PVPC land use-environmental planner, said.
Eaton outlined the larger projects that the city would have to undertake in the meeting.
Some of the items include developing an electronic system to track burn permits, since the current system is paper-based and difficult to use for easy notification of permit holders, such as when it is unsafe to burn brush.
Another item was from the city’s engineering and public works departments, who highlighted localized flood-prone areas in the city. These included North West Road near Little River, Union Street and East Mountain Road intersection and Lloyd’s Hill Road.
Eaton also highlighted that the city, since it made updates to the Westfield River levy system, will now be looking at the Little River levy system to see if it is working adequately. If not, that could be another potential update.
Other updates include a possible tree warden position, better management of debris following storms or other events, as well as increased education for residents before and after incidents occur.
Eaton said that anyone with comments, concerns or ideas is urged to submit them to her via email at [email protected]. All messages must be sent by Sept. 28 at 11:59 p.m. If you would like to see the plan as it is currently, you can go to: bit.ly/WestfieldHMP (the link is case-sensitive).
The final edit of the hazard mitigation plan will be submitted following the close of the commenting section, Sept. 28.
