UPDATING THE COUNTY-WIDE MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN – PUBLIC MEETING MAY 12

Elkhart County, in cooperation with the towns of Bristol, Middlebury, Nappanee and Wakarusa, and the cities of Elkhart and Goshen, have prepared an update to the 2007 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan to address the risk and vulnerability of communities in the county which may be affected by known natural, technological and political hazards.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires communities to update their MHMP every five years in order to be eligible for any future mitigation funding through the State Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The intent of the MHMP is to plan for a disaster before it occurs in order to reduce the physical, social and economical impact of that disaster.

The draft Elkhart County MHMP Update will be presented at a public meeting Thursday May 12. It will be presented at 6:30 p.m. in the Correctional Facility Campus, Jail Training Room, 26861 CR 26, Elkhart. Topics covered during this public presentation will include: an overview of the planning requirements; a summary of the risk assessment and vulnerability analysis; and proposed mitigation projects for prevention, property protection, natural resource protection, emergency services, structural control projects and public information.

Following the public meeting, a hard copy document will be available at the Elkhart County EMA Office, 26861 CR 26, Elkhar and comments will be accepted through Friday, May 20. Submit comments to Jennifer Tobey at the Elkhart County Emergency Management Agency, (574) 891-2238 or jtobey@elkhartcounty.com

Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate in this informational session.