Last year, CARPC worked with Rock County Emergency Management to update the County’s hazard mitigation plan. A completed draft is now available for public review and comment through April 10, 2023.
What is Hazard Mitigation Planning?
Disasters can damage buildings and infrastructure, disrupt social, environmental, and economic systems, and cause injuries and loss of life. The purpose of mitigation planning is to identify actions and policies that can reduce the risks and losses from future hazard events. Common mitigation activities include relocating or demolishing flood prone structures, constructing storm shelters, burying utilities, and conducting public awareness campaigns.
Proactive mitigation measures help create safer, more disaster-resilient communities. A 2019 study by the National Institute of Building Sciences shows that each federal grant dollar spent on mitigation saves an average of six dollars in future recovery costs.
As directed by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, local governments must prepare, adopt, and update a multi-hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible for certain Federal assistance programs. Local hazard mitigation plans form the foundation of a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repetitive damage. Maintaining a FEMA-approved mitigation plan makes all participating communities eligible for non-emergency federal disaster assistance and hazard mitigation funding.
Planning Process
RCEM and CARPC began the update process in July 2022. Representatives from local municipalities, Rock County agencies, and other stakeholder organizations guided the hazard identification, vulnerability assessment, and mitigation strategy for this plan. Members of the public submitted their feedback on local hazard risk, disaster history, and mitigation activities through an online survey this fall. Survey responses were used to help prioritize the hazards, vulnerabilities, and mitigation actions included in the plan.
By implementing the mitigation plan, Rock County seeks to address and proactively reduce potential disaster damages. The plan’s countywide mitigation goals are to:
- Protect human life and minimize social, economic, and environmental disruptions from natural, technological, and human-caused hazards and threats.
- Protect critical infrastructure and priority services including police, fire, and EMS.
- Promote whole-community threat and hazard awareness and emergency preparedness.
- Support collaboration, partnerships, and proactive planning and action among county agencies, local governments, and other stakeholder organizations.
- Identify potential funding sources for mitigation projects and, as appropriate, engage government and non-government partners for mitigation grant applications.
The plan is currently being reviewed by Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM). Once WEM approves the plan, it will be reviewed by FEMA. The final, FEMA-approved plan will be adopted by the County Board and local communities. To maintain FEMA grant eligibility, the plan will be updated again in five years. RCEM will also update the plan following major disaster events or if new conditions significantly change risk.
