Poweshiek County, IA –– A planning committee comprised of representatives from Poweshiek County, the incorporated cities and public school districts is currently updating the comprehensive Poweshiek County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The Poweshiek County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee is seeking public input for the plan update. A summary of the plan update effort underway, as well as a questionnaire to capture public opinion and comments, is available online at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Poweshiek. Hard copies of the questionnaire will also available at City Halls of the incorporated cities in the county during normal operating hours. The survey will be available until October 31, 2015. The purpose of this outreach effort is to provide information to the public on the plan that is being updated as well as gain public input.
The plan update will address a comprehensive list of hazards—ranging from severe winter storms and flooding to drought and tornadoes—and will assess the likely impacts of these hazards on communities and school districts in Poweshiek County. This effort will also update current strategies and identify additional strategies to reduce the vulnerability of people and property in the participating jurisdictions from the impacts of hazards as well as maintain eligibility for participating jurisdictions for mitigation funding programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Poweshiek County Emergency Management has taken the lead in coordinating the update of this plan under the direction of Emergency Management Coordinator, Trisha Rooda. Ms. Rooda has drawn on the expertise of consultants with Amec Foster Wheeler Environment & Infrastructure, Inc., a firm that specializes in hazard mitigation and emergency management.
Feedback from the public will be incorporated into the draft plan, which will be available for public review and comment in December 2015. Upon approval by the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management Division and FEMA, the plan will be presented to the Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors, City Councils, and School Boards of each participating jurisdiction for formal adoption. For more information on this project, contact the Poweshiek County Emergency Management Agency at 641-623-4357 or via e-mail at ema@poweshiekcosheriff.com.