Public input wanted as Macomb County updates Hazard Mitigation Plan

Macomb County Emergency Management and Communications announced today that they are working with 25 Macomb County communities to update the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan for the period of 2025-2030. The County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies natural and human-caused hazards; the threats those hazards cause to the population, property, and the economy; and measures that can be taken to reduce the risks associated with those threats.

A current Hazard Mitigation Plan is required to access multiple sources of federal disaster relief funding under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires a plan to be updated every five years in order to remain current.

In order to develop a comprehensive plan, Macomb County will seek input from residents, community leaders, business owners, and other organizations into the planning process. The County will host a series of presentations to introduce the public to the plan and highlight areas where the community can get involved. Three community educational meetings will be held at various locations around the County:

• Thursday, January 25, 2024, 7 p.m. at Washington Township Hall, 57900 Van Dyke Ave, Washington Township
• Thursday, February 22, 2024, 7 p.m. at New Haven Village Hall, 57775 Main St, New Haven
• Tuesday, March 19, 2024, 7 p.m. at the Maybelle Burnette Library, 23345 Van Dyke Ave, Warren

Residents will have the opportunity to hear from County experts about the following topics:

• What hazards pose the greatest risk to the community
• The community’s perception of the hazards that may impact them the most
• Practical emergency preparedness tips individuals and families can use
• Avenues that the County and local communities will be taking to incorporate public input into the process

Examples of hazard mitigation measures identified through best practices include:

• Installation of emergency backup generators at critical facilities
• Construction of walls and barriers to protect flood-prone areas
• Construction of community storm shelters in high-density residential areas that are disproportionately impacted by severe weather.

A draft of the plan will be made available for public review prior to submission to the State of Michigan for approval. Questions regarding the hazard mitigation plan can be directed to Macomb County Emergency Management at 586-469-5270 or mcoem@macombgov.org.