Work begins on Hazard Mitigation Plan

Contributed Article

Contributed Article

A planning team comprised of representatives from Graham County, the city of Safford, the town of Thatcher and the town of Pima will meet regularly to participate in a mitigation planning process. The purpose of this process is to develop a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan for Graham County and local jurisdictions according to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA2K). The DMA2K requires all local, county, tribal and state governments to have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan in order to be eligible for federal disaster mitigation funds. This plan will focus on the area’s most threatening hazards and provide a strategy to reduce or eliminate the risk from those hazards to the people and property. The planning team anticipates having a plan draft in early 2009, at which time the public will be provided access and the opportunity to comment.

For more information regarding the hazard mitigation planning process contact Brian Douglas, Graham County deputy director for emergency management, 826 W. Main St., Safford, AZ 85546, or e-mail bdouglas@graham.az.gov.