The 2020 Westmoreland County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) update is complete. The HMP documents the risks faced by the county and its communities, an analysis of stakeholder capabilities, and a set of goals, objectives, and actions to reduce vulnerability across the county.

Did you know…

In the 2020 Westmoreland County Hazard Mitigation 1,689 page Plan that “local” is referenced 506 times and “planning” is mentioned 680 times.  Local planning is the main thread of the plan and contains 449 project mitigation actions.

Hazard mitigation is any sustainable action that reduces or eliminates long-term risk to people and property from future disasters. Mitigation planning breaks the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction and repeated damage. Hazard mitigation includes long-term solutions that reduce the impact of disasters in the future.

FEMA's hazard mitigation assistance provides funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses. It also:

• Reduces vulnerability of communities to disasters and their effects. 
• Promotes individual and community safety and their ability to adapt to changing conditions and withstand and rapidly recover from disruption due to emergencies (resilience). 
• Promotes community vitality after a disaster. 
• Lessens response and recovery resource requirements after a disaster. 
• Results in safer communities that are less reliant on external financial assistance. 

Check out the 2020 Westmoreland County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan Update here: https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/1853/Hazard-Mitigation-Plan

Please find more information about the grants here: https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation

Please contact Andrew “Rocky” Rzodkiewicz, All Hazards Planner, Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety, 724-600-7300 with any questions