Norwalk lands FEMA grant to create hazard mitigation plan
NORWALK – The City of Norwalk Emergency Management Office has begun to develop the city’s new Hazard Mitigation Plan to address natural and man-made hazards such as earthquake, flooding, and extreme heat.
The city needs your help identifying solutions to the problems associated with hazards. The public is invited to participate in the hazard mitigation plan by completing a survey about Norwalk’s hazard risks: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T8JVZH3
The planning process will be organized into three phases. Each phase will include opportunities for public input and feedback:
Phase 1 | March - April 2021
• Take the community member survey. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T8JVZH3 • Attend a Steering Committee meeting: April 9 at 3 pm
• Email comments: LHMP@norwalkca.gov
Phase 2 | May - June 2021
• Take the community member survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/T8JVZH3 • Public Meeting #1: “What is Hazard Mitigation Planning + Norwalk’s Risk Analysis Results” • Attend a Steering Committee meeting: schedule to be posted to the project website
• Email comments: LHMP@norwalkca.gov
Phase 3 | July - August 2021
• Review the Draft plan: When ready, the plan will be posted to the website
• Public Meeting #2: “Review of Norwalk’s first draft Local Hazard Mitigation Plan”
• Attend a Steering Committee meeting: schedule to be posted to the project website
• Email comments: LHMP@norwalkca.gov
More public engagement opportunities may become available throughout the process and if so, will be posted to the project website at norwalk.org.
A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan will serve as a meaningful template for a more resilient and sustainable Norwalk. The plan looks at how Norwalk can reduce its impact of natural and man-made hazards such as earthquakes, floods, and extreme heat.
Once approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the plan makes Norwalk eligible for pre- and post-disaster mitigation project grant funding through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs and other non-emergency disaster assistance like FEMA’s new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.
Norwalk currently does not have its own Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and is therefore not eligible for federal hazard mitigation grants directly from FEMA.
With support from a consulting team led by Tetra Tech, Inc., the City of Norwalk Emergency Management Office has formed an Advisory Committee of city and regional leaders to inform the planning process.
The Advisory Committee held its first meeting in February 2021 and plans to hold its second meeting in March 2021.
For more information about Norwalk’s new Local Hazard Mitigation Plan or to learn about ways to participate in the development of the LHMP, contact Gabriela Garcia at 562-929-5964 or send an email to LHMP@norwalkca.gov.