What Are the Natural Hazards in Wilton?

The effects of Superstorm Sandy and Hurricane Irene remain all too vivid in local residents’ memories and many are still dealing with the impact of the storms.

The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WCCOG, formerly the South Western Regional Plan Association) announced on Monday it is conducting a Natural Hazard Survey to solicit public feedback about natural hazards in the South Western Region of Fairfield County. The survey aims to identify the natural hazards of greatest public concern, including vulnerable locations and potential mitigation opportunities.

WCCOG is conducting the survey in conjunction with its ongoing Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) efforts, a key planning document which keeps participating municipalities eligible for many types of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding. The eight HMP municipalities include: Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, Norwalk, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton.

South Western Connecticut has experienced an array of extreme weather events in recent years. The resulting damage and financial impacts have spurred a sense of urgency to increase resilience to such natural hazards. WCCOG, its municipalities and key stakeholders have worked to better prepare the area, and seek public input to ensure adequate preparedness for future disasters.

Survey results will be utilized to help protect the region against the impacts of extreme weather and climate change, providing emergency responders and key decision maker’s greater understanding of public perception to natural hazards, including vulnerabilities. This information is vital, and provides opportunities to more effectively target outreach and education efforts in local communities, while also confirming critical vulnerable areas suitable for mitigation measures. Such efforts increase overall public safety, reduce vulnerability to key assets and infrastructure, while also reducing human and financial impacts associated with natural disasters, consistent with HMP goals and objectives.

“A key component to natural hazard mitigation is getting the right people at the table. The Natural Hazard Mitigation Survey provides an unparalleled opportunity to cast a wider net and better involve the public.” said Robert Sachnin, Senior Regional Planner at WCCOG and HMP project manager. “These are the people who are directly affected by disasters, and it’s important that their voices are heard. The public’s feedback concurrently assists emergency responders, so it’s really a win/win for the community.”

The survey can be found here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1L2l_wL8TR9APXwAPlM9QPQDzL1HTTDwh7irFEngEc8Q/viewform?edit_r equested=true

Additional HMP information found at WCCOG/SWRPA’s website: http://www.swrpa.org/default.aspx?Regional=268.

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