We've Got The County Covered
We've Got The County Covered
On behalf of Blaine County Disaster and Emergency Services (DES), I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to participate in the five-year update of the Blaine County Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Plan. By providing input and direction as a project stakeholder you can assist us by representing your interests in making our communities more resilient and resistant to the damages caused by natural and man-made hazards. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that a PDM Plan be in place for the County to receive disaster mitigation funds and apply for mitigation grants.
The PDM Plan will re-examine the wide range of hazards that affect Blaine County, recent hazard events, the probability of future occurrences, and the vulnerabilities of our structures and population. From that assessment, a plan of action to mitigate these hazards can be updated. Your assistance with update of the PDM Plan will ensure it is meaningful and relevant throughout Blaine County.
Blaine County has contracted with Tetra Tech, Inc. to assist with the PDM Plan update. Although Tetra Tech will provide project management, technical assistance, and otherwise provide a majority of the administrative work on the Plan, your participation is important to ensure our vulnerabilities are identified and the appropriate mitigation projects included in the Plan.
We have a 12-month time frame for completing the project. The first public meeting to kick-off the project will be held November 13th at noon in the DES office. Over the winter we will meet with the PDM Planning Team and complete the hazard profiles and risk assessment. By May 15th we will have complete a draft Plan and hold a second public meeting to review the draft risk assessment and mitigation strategy. A 30-day review period will take place from mid-May to mid-June where we encourage you to provide us with your comments. At the conclusion of the comment period, Tetra Tech will complete a Plan revision and submit the updated Plan to Montana DES and FEMA for review and approval. During this period (July-August) you will have a second opportunity to review the Plan and provide comments. Based on further comments, Tetra Tech will complete another Plan revision and submit the final document to the County, City of Chinook, and Town of Harlem for adoption (September). Once the Plan is adopted, Blaine County and the incorporated communities will remain eligible to receive FEMA funding for mitigation projects.
We look forward to your involvement in this very important project. Update of the Blaine County PDM Plan will go a long way to save lives and protect property in our county. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact me at 406-357-3310 or Daphne Digrindakis with Tetra Tech at 406-475-2648.
