Montgomery County secures significant State funding to protect against future emergencies

Multi-Year Plan Will Help the County, Municipalities Prepare For Natural Disasters

(FONDA, NY) — When an emergency strikes, it’s important to have a plan to minimize the potential loss of life and property damage. To help better prepare for future emergencies, Montgomery County is updating its 5-year Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) thanks to $120,000 in funding secured through the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYS DHSES).

“Developing a comprehensive written plan allows the County and its local jurisdictions to identify risks associated with natural disasters and develop long-term strategies to address future hazardous events,” said Montgomery County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort. “It was only a decade ago that our community experienced the devastating impact of Hurricane Sandy, and we’ve continued to experience major storms that have challenged our communities and our first responders. Updating the Hazard Mitigation Plan will ensure the County, our local governments and our emergency service providers are prepared to act when disaster strikes.”

For the first time, the County and the local jurisdictions will incorporate climate vulnerability assessments into the HMP, instead of relying solely on information from historical events.

The HMP will also take into account the 2019 New York State Hazard Mitigation Plan and the forthcoming 2023 FEMA updates.

“Having an updated HMP not only makes us better prepared for future disasters, it also ensures that we are current with the latest state and federal disaster preparedness guidelines. Our office was pleased to work with our partners in local and state government to secure these valuable funds, and is now working with all of the municipalities in the county to identify community assets”,” said Ken Rose, CEO of the Montgomery County Business Development Center (MCBDC), whose office worked to secure the funding from NYS DHSES.

“The updated HMP will help the county and municipalities have a plan that will proactively address long-term resiliency in the face of current and future natural hazards. This helps everyone be better prepared for a natural disaster and allows for quicker recovery times after a major event,” said Jeffrey Kaczor Montgomery County’s Director of Emergency Services.

Local and county stakeholders are currently working with the civil engineering consultant, Tighe & Bond, to conduct the HMP update. When completed, maps and data will be available for public review at www.montgomerycountyworks.com/planning-services/county-plans-studies-and-mapping/.