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UPDATE: Public Comments Requested on Maricopa County
Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management has completed the final draft of
the Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Plan) which is now
available for public review and comment.
The purpose of the Plan is to guide and define hazard mitigation planning strategies
to better protect the people and property of Maricopa County from the effects of natural
hazard events. Preparation of the Plan will also meet eligibility requirements for
non-emergency federal mitigation funds. Twenty-four (24) incorporated cities and towns,
two tribes, and one other governmental organization located in Maricopa County actively
participated in this cooperative effort. The updated Plan final draft is available to
view below.
As with all plans that impact the public, Maricopa County and the participating jurisdictions and organizations value the input of the citizens that the plan may impact. Local citizens are encouraged to review the final draft plan. You may email your comments to the following:
Pete Weaver, Emergency Management Director peteweaver@mail.maricopa.gov
Or
Cristina Herrera, Mitigation Planner cristinaherrera@mail.maricopa.gov
Public Comments will be accepted through October 16, 2009
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What is hazard mitigation planning?
Hazard mitigation planning is a process for State, local, and Indian Tribal governments
to identify policies, activities, and tools to implement mitigation actions. Mitigation is
any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from
a hazard event. This process has four steps:
- Organizing resources;
- Assessing risks;
- Developing a mitigation plan; and
- Implementing the plan and monitoring progress.
Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
In 2003 and 2004, Maricopa County, two Indian Tribes, and all incorporated cities and towns
in Maricopa County, participated in a multi-jurisdictional mitigation planning effort that
resulted in the development of a multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan with separate
plans that covered each participating jurisdiction. The
Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdictional
Hazard Mitigation Plan (2004) and all of the separate plans received official Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval on November 29, 2004. The 2004 Plan was designed
to meet the federal regulations set forth by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which
requires all local, county, tribal and state governments to develop a multi-hazard mitigation
plan for their respective jurisdictions in order to be eligible to receive certain hazard
mitigation and public assistance funds.
The 2004 Plan is nearing the end of the 5-year planning cycle and is set to expire in
November 2009. The Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM) applied for
and received a planning grant to fund a multi-jurisdictional effort to review, update and
consolidate the 2004 Plan, with resubmittal to FEMA prior to its expiration in November 2009.
Plan Update Process
MCDEM initiated the update process in December 2008. The plan update process will require
the regrouping of the Maricopa County Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, which originally was
comprised of one or more lead contacts from each participating jurisdiction as well as
public utilities, hospitals, police, fire and sheriff’s departments, and other public and
private entities.
Input must be obtained from neighboring communities, local and regional agencies involved
in hazard mitigation activities and agencies having authority to regulate development
including businesses, academia and other private and non-profit interests. The Hazard
Mitigation Planning Team will be meeting regularly to review, revise, and/or update of the
following elements:
- Previously identified hazards that may impact or have impacted the community
- Profiles of the most relevant hazard events
- Assessment of vulnerability to hazards
- Assessment of the communities’ capability to mitigate hazards
- Hazard mitigation goals and objectives for the community
- Hazard mitigation actions and/or projects
- Implementation strategy for the plan
- Plan maintenance strategy for the next 5-year cycle
- Write and officially adopt plan
STAKEHOLDER MEETINGS
To meet the goal of having an approved plan by November 2009, a
meeting calendar running
from January 2009 to July 2009 has been established.
Stakeholder Meeting #1 - Minutes
Stakeholder Meeting #1 - Material
Stakeholder Meeting #1 - State Hazard Mitigation Measures checklist
Stakeholder Meeting #2 - Minutes
Stakeholder Meeting #2 – CPRI Guidance
Stakeholder Meeting #2 – Calculation Template
Stakeholder Meeting #3 – Minutes
Stakeholder Meeting #4 – Minutes
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
The public is welcome to attend of the stakeholder meetings and encouraged to participate
and comment on the plan during its drafting stages and prior to seeking final approval from
the Federal Emergency Management Agency. To submit comments online, please use the links
below.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
For more information or to submit comments and questions, call the Maricopa County
Department of Emergency Management at 602-273-1411 or one of the contacts below: