#Middlebury #COG
Area residents will have the opportunity to provide input on regional plans to address natural hazardous events during a virtual workshop Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 6 p.m. Recent damaging weather events, including Tropical Storm Isaias in the summer of 2020 are a reminder that weather and other natural events can present significant hazards to life and property in the Naugatuck Valley region. The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments (NVCOG) is in the process of developing the regional, multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan (HMP) that will update plans in all 19 towns in its planning region.
A Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan is a tool that helps a community understand risk and take specific steps to reduce property damage, injury, and loss of life from natural disasters. The February 10 workshop will be used to describe some of the new hazard risk reduction strategies being considered for inclusion, as well as the actions associated with these strategies. Please visit www.nvcogct.gov/HMP for details of the workshop.
Updated FEMA-approved plans are required for municipalities to be eligible for certain hazard mitigation grant funding. The HMP helps public officials and residents understand vulnerabilities and will identify actions that communities can take to prevent or minimize future risks.
Public engagement is critical to the planning process, both to educate residents about the risks and vulnerabilities they face from natural events and to seek their concerns, opinions and input. While the ongoing pandemic will limit typical public engagement forums, such as public meetings and in-person workshops, the project team has developed several ways for the public to learn about the project and provide feedback, all accessible on the project webpage at www.nvcogct.gov/HMP.
In addition, an interactive online Story Map has been designed to explain the hazard mitigation planning process and help visually explain risks and adaptation options in the region. A short online survey is available for members of the public to provide input. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete.
Finally, the project team has scheduled a number of appearances at local Planning Commission and Planning & Zoning Commission meetings, which are open to the public. Each community has its own procedures for joining these local meetings.
