Local News

Okanogan County and Cities Kick Off Project to Update Hazard Mitigation Plan

Oct 17, 2019

Okanogan County is beginning the process of updating its Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan examines the risks posed by the natural hazards that affect Okanogan County, and its communities, and develops strategies to reduce the impacts from those hazards.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires counties to update this plan every five years to remain eligible for federal funding for hazard mitigation projects. All cities/towns in Okanogan County, two Fire Districts, Okanogan Conservation District are currently recognized as adopting jurisdictions in the plan, along with the county itself.

This project is funded through grants from FEMA and the initial “kickoff” meeting will be held October 30, 2019 at 1:30 PM in the Commissioners Hearing room at the Virginia Granger Admin Building in Okanogan.

A planning team will work with Emergency Management throughout the update process. The team will consist of representatives from local agencies, organizations, governments, and groups. Northwest Management, Inc. has been retained by Okanogan County to provide risk assessments, hazard mapping, field inspections, interviews, and to collaborate with the planning team to update the plan.

Community input will also play a key role in the 2020 plan update. Public meetings, reviews of the plan, and a public comment period will be announced in the future. The current version of the plan (titled the Okanogan County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan) can be accessed and viewed on the Okanogan County Emergency Management website. The update project is expected to be completed by October 15, 2020.