MONTGOMERY – Town officials conducted the third public meeting last night for the development of a hazard mitigation plan seeking comment on options to reduce the damage, and possible loss of life, caused by natural disasters.
The hazard mitigation planning process was initiated in late June under a program funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and coordinated by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission.
Josiah Neiderbach of the PVPC said the adoption of the hazard mitigation plan will make the town eligible for FEMA grant funding.
“The Town of Montgomery is currently developing a hazard mitigation plan to identify ways to prevent damage from natural hazards such as snow storms, flooding, and wildfires,” Neiderbach said as the process was put into motion.
This planning effort is being undertaken to assess the risks faced from natural hazards, identify action steps that can be taken to minimize or prevent damage to property and loss of life, and prioritize funding for mitigation efforts.
A mitigation action is any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.
PVPC Principal Planner for the Land Environment Section Catherine Ratte said the planning process was completed last night and the Montgomery Hazard Mitigation Plan will be submitted to MEMA for its review.
“If the plan is approved by MEMA it is then sent to FEMA for its review and approval,” Ratte said. “That process could take as long as a year. Almost all of the 351 communities in the state have hazard mitigation plans which are good for five years, so there are always communities submitting updated plans for MEMA review.”
After the mitigation plan has gone through the review process with MEMA and FEMA it will come back to the Montgomery Board of Selectmen for their final vote of adoption.
The draft plan is posted at www.pvpc.org/plans/town-montgomery-hazard-mitigation-plan.
