Westchester Seeking Public Input For Disaster Preparedness

WHITE PLAINS, NY — Westchester County is looking to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan through a citizen preparedness survey.

The online survey is designed to gauge the level of knowledge residents already have about natural disaster issues. It asks for information you have about areas vulnerable to any type of natural disaster and will help the county coordinate activities that will reduce the risk of injury or property damage in the future.

Find the survey here.

County Executive George Latimer said the plan will help Westchester be more prepared and allow for federal funding in the event of a natural disaster.

"It will increase awareness for all of us," he said," making the county less vulnerable to risks and in better shape to tackle whatever lies in front of us."

The county said that natural disasters such as flooding, hurricanes and blizzards are assessed during hazard mitigation planning.

Strategies are also developed to reduce disaster impacts and break the cycle of damage, reconstruction and repeated losses.

Hazard mitigation plans are also required to receive grant funding from FEMA.

A series of public meetings will be part of the plan development process, county officials said.

The survey will be open until Sept. 30. Results will be included in the draft plan for the public review in November.

For more information, visit this link.

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