About the Hazard Mitigation Plan
The goal of Montgomery County's hazard mitigation plan (HMP) is to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards by identifying and implementing cost-effective mitigation actions. FEMA requires a hazard mitigation plan to be updated every five years. Montgomery County’s first HMP went into effect in 2007. Five-year updates to the plan were approved in 2012 and 2018. The Montgomery County 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA early in 2023.
The current plan was compiled over the course of 2022 with information provided by municipalities, county departments, and state agencies. A multi-disciplined steering committee comprised of county, municipal, and community representatives, advised the process. Several public meetings and a final public hearing were held during the process to gather public comment on the plan. Updating and adopting the HMP is essential because a current plan is required by state and federal agencies in order for communities in Montgomery County to be eligible for certain types of pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding.
The plan addresses 28 hazards that have the potential to affect the county. Most of these, such as hurricane, flooding, urban fire, and utility disruption, have been covered in previous plans. Three new hazards, gun violence, opioid addiction, and invasive species, have been added to the 2022 plan, and the pandemic section has been expanded.
The plan is available here.
If you would like to get in touch with the project team, please contact Drew Shaw 610-278-3733 for more information.