The Wood County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) invites the public to review the Wood County Mitigation Plan. Over the past year, the Wood County EMA has been working with all political subdivisions (cities, villages, townships, and special districts) to identify potential threats and hazards (natural or manmade), as well as developing strategies to mitigate their impacts.
Adoption and implementation of the Wood County Hazard Mitigation Plan prepares Wood County to be more resilient to hazards such as flooding, snow and ice storms, high wind events, extreme temperatures, and unintentional chemical releases. An approved and adopted hazard mitigation plan also opens the door for potential mitigation grant funding should these opportunities become available.
A crucial component of this process and plan development is to ensure that the public has a chance to review the draft plan and provide feedback. The draft plan will be available for public review from Nov. 28 through Dec. 11.
The draft can be accessed at: www.consultrsa.com/wood or people can review a hard copy in the EMA office located at: One Courthouse Square, Bowling Green, Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. For this second option, people are asked to let staff know in advance to ensure someone can assist in a timely manner.
At the completion of the public review period, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will review and approve the plan. Once approved, the plan will then need to be formally adopted by the cities, villages, townships, and special districts in Wood County.
Adoption will allow Wood County and all political subdivisions in Wood County to apply for pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation funds when there is an opportunity to do so. Without a compliant, approved, and adopted hazard mitigation plan, political subdivisions in Wood County are unable and unqualified to apply for such funding.
If you have any questions, contact the Wood County EMA office at 419-354-9269 or woodcountyema@woodcountyohio.gov.
