Greenwich Enters Into Updated Hazard Mitigation Plan

GREENWICH, CT — Last week, the Board of Selectmen unanimously voted to enter the town of Greenwich into an updated hazard mitigation plan, which was put together by the Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG).

Participating in the plan is a requirement to access resiliency grant funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), explained Nicole Sullivan from WestCOG. Greenwich will be able to receive flood mitigation assistance, participate in hazard mitigation grant programs, and the Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities program, or BRIC.

"This will be the primary document that the town uses to guide future actions in grant applications through FEMA. It's important to note that these projects and programs are not mandates by any means," Sullivan said of the plan, which runs through 2026.

The plan specifically addresses hazard mitigation strategies and plan maintenance procedures for the Greenwich. The plan also recommends several hazard mitigation actions/projects that will provide mitigation for specific natural hazards that may impact the town — such as flooding, high wind, thunderstorms, winter storms, earthquakes, droughts, dam failure, and wildfires — with the effect of protecting people and property from loss associated with those hazards.

Greenwich was part of a hazard mitigation plan update in 2016. This time for the update, WestCOG contracted with SLR Consulting.

"They helped us carry out this regional update of the hazard mitigation plan. This is the first time WestCOG was able to get all of our 18 municipalities into one regional plan.

Along with Greenwich, members of WestCOG include:

Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

Sullivan said throughout the process, WestCOG met with Greenwich municipal staff to go over the plan.

"I know this was a really hard past couple of years, especially with COVID, so we really appreciate everyone's participation," Sullivan said.

Before the vote, however, Selectperson Jill Oberlander expressed concern about a lack of public outreach in Greenwich.

"I recognize that WestCOG is dealing with a number of localities and last year was a unique year in terms of COVID and outreach," Oberlander said. "I'd like to suggest to my colleagues on the Board of Selectman that we don't delay because we need to adopt a plan to apply for funding. But we use the next year to really actually do some public outreach to make sure people are aware, especially given the recent events [of Hurricane Ida], and get people's input including throughout Town Hall on what the plan provides."

Oberlander also proposed an amendment to the plan to include language about fire coverage and potential plans for a northwest fire station in Greenwich. She said it should be labeled as "an ongoing dialogue" in the community.

"The plan update has dropped a plan for a northwest fire station from the Greenwich-specific hazard mitigation plan. The notes indicate the town has determined that the cost benefit ratio of this action does not warrant its implementation," Oberlander said. "I don't agree with that statement, and I don't think that it's reflective of the community-wide perception of fire response needs. I don't believe it's consistent with the recent fire study performed by Matrix."

First Selectman Fred Camillo and Selectperson Lauren Rabin agreed with Oberlander on the amendment.

"This is something the fire administration and the Office of the First Selectman is working on. It's a continuing conversation, and it should be in there. I would certainly take your amendment," Camillo said.

A municipal coordinator for the hazard mitigation plan must be appointed. The coordinator is "responsible for monitoring the successful implementation of the plan update at the local level." Dan Warzoha, Greenwich's Emergency Management Director, was listed as the coordinator, but he died suddenly last month.

Camillo said right now, Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey is the acting Emergency Director.

"We're looking to appoint an interim, then appoint a permanent position. That's hopefully coming soon. Right now, it's Chief Heavey, who has been working hard at it. It's kind of fluid right now," Camillo said.