From City press release:

Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond’s Office of Emergency Management invites public comment on a regional Hazard Mitigation Plan that is presently being updated.
A meeting will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room, 9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200, Richmond VA 23235.

Disasters can devastate a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the potential impact of future disasters.
Mitigation planning is a key process to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. It positions local leaders to take action prior to a disaster, to reduce impacts when a disaster occurs. Using local knowledge and expertise to plan today, allows localities to plan, design, and build their community and builds partnerships for risk reduction throughout the community.

Having a hazard mitigation plan will:
· increase awareness of hazards, risk, and vulnerabilities;
· identify actions for risk reduction;
· focus resources on the greatest risks;
· communicate priorities to state and federal officials; and
· increase overall awareness of hazards and risks.

The 26 localities of the Richmond and Crater regions work together to update the Richmond-Crater Multi-Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters and develop long-term strategies to reduce or eliminate long-term risks.
While nothing can be done to prevent natural hazard events from occurring, the region is poised to minimize the disruption and devastation that so often accompanies disasters, increasing the region’s resiliency.

Attend the meeting below to help break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Please come to provide comment on the plan.

Friday, December 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room
9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23235
For additional information please contact Bill Lawson, Emergency Planner, Office of Emergency Management, at 804-646-5281 or William.Lawson@Richmondgov.com.