DeKalb County seeks public input on Hazard Mitigation Plan

Virtual kickoff meeting scheduled

DECATUR, GA—The DeKalb Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) is updating the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) and will conduct a virtual kickoff meeting for leaders and residents on Oct. 6, 1 to 2 p.m. to discuss the updates.

Please register in advance for the meeting here or copy and paste this link into your browser (https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApf–sqTwqEt02LKIbnW_HFuUlKyqIStAt).

Mitigation planning helps leaders and residents better understand risks from natural hazards such as tornadoes, flooding, severe weather, wind and drought and develop long-term strategies to lessen their impact on people, property and the environment.

This is done by completing an assessment of the hazards and the county’s vulnerability to those hazards. The next step is to develop mitigation projects for each hazard that affects the county and its jurisdictions. An approved HMP will make the county eligible for federal and state relief funds.

The planning process itself is as important as the resulting plan because it encourages communities to integrate mitigation with day-to-day decision-making regarding land use, floodplain management, site design and other functions.

By participating in the meeting, residents can represent their communities and share experiences and ideas for the planning process.

After registering, participants will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the kickoff meeting.

For any questions related to the upcoming kickoff meeting, contact Yolanda Harkley at yaharkley@dekalbcountyga.gov.