The following is a release from Snohomish County:
September is National Preparedness Month, and an important step Snohomish County residents can take to prepare for emergencies is to understand potential hazards where they live, work, and play. The newly released update to the Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is a helpful resource for residents and visitors alike. It contains information about many of the county’s hazards. It also offers guidance about how to reduce the effects of natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions.
“I encourage everyone to prepare their families and homes for natural disasters, since even minimum preparation can have maximum benefit,” said Jason Biermann, Director of Snohomish County’s Department of Emergency Management. “Natural disasters are by definition unexpected, and we urge our neighbors to use this report to prepare a plan now.”
In addition to analyzing potential local threats, Snohomish County’s HMP identifies and prioritizes actions that should reduce the risks we face. The plan’s primary goals are reducing natural hazard-related loss of life, personal injury, and property damage to county residents. Its goals also include promoting a sustainable economy, minimizing the impact of natural disasters on the environment, and increasing public awareness about potential disasters.
The draft version of the plan was approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and adopted by the county in September 2015. It represents a partnership between Snohomish County and 37 participating jurisdictions, including cities, tribes, fire departments, and special-purpose districts. Participating in this effort enables Snohomish County’s partners to maintain their eligibility for disaster-related federal grant assistance. It also helps maintain the county’s compliance with FEMA’s Community Rating System (CRS) program. Progress on mitigation is documented annually and available for review by contacting the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management.
The Snohomish County Hazard Mitigation Plan is available at https://snohomishcountywa.gov/HMP.
