Hazards Mitigation Plans
Responsible Staff: Dan Shallow
This grant is made possible through the NH Bureau of Emergency Management
Purpose
All-Hazards Mitigation plans are important to protect communities from potential natural and man-made disasters by taking inventory of critical facilities and resources, mapping potential hazard areas, and identifying actions needed to be made in order to provide the best protection for all citizens. Any community applying for Hazards Mitigation grant funds for equipment or mitigating strategies from FEMA must completed this “All Hazards Mitigation Plan”.
Description
The All-Hazards Mitigation Plan consists of ten planning steps which are facilitated by NCC. The town is responsible for working with NCC in developing the Hazards Mitigation Committee which should consist of members selected by the Emergency Management Director (EMD) of the town which should include the police department, fire department, road agent, planning board, the town manager, and the Selectmen. The Committee can consist of more individuals than noted. NCC staff will hold two to four work sessions with the committee in order to identify critical facilities and potential disaster areas, review current mitigation techniques for effectiveness, and brainstorm new mitigation strategies needed, and ways to implement those strategies. The final plan will be sent to the NH Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval, and then will be adopted by the town by vote of the selectmen.
Towns that have completed All-Hazards Mitigation Plans: Randolph, Northumberland, Littleton, Jefferson, Berlin, Franconia, Waterville Valley, Colebrook, Gorham, Haverhill, Lancaster, Lincoln, Lisbon, Monroe, Plymouth, Shelburne, Thornton, Warren.
Timeframe
It takes approximately two to four meetings to complete the planning process and a total of two to three months from the start of the process to receiving approval from state and federal agencies.
Related Services & Programs
Ordinances - New mitigation strategies communities often come up with often cause needed revisions to their zoning ordinance, such as the floodplain regulations. It is possible that a community may need to revisit their ordinances if it is listed as a new mitigation strategy in their All Hazards Mitigation Plan.
Subdivision and Site Plan Regulations - There may also needed to be changes made to both the subdivision and site plan regulations if listed as a new mitigation strategy. The placement of homes and buildings on a lot and their capacity to deal with groundwater and drainage are important. Also, if flooding is a concern to a community, they may need to revisit their regulations.Wildfire Mitigation Plans - While the All Hazards Mitigation Plans covers all natural and man-made disasters, the wildfire plan specifically addresses concerns about fire disasters. A town can work on both plans concurrently or use the general information provided in the All Hazards Plan related to wildfire to begin the detailed process of planning for all fire disasters.