Iroquois County will update its plan to reduce the damage caused by severe weather such as thunderstorms, floods, snow and ice storms, and tornados, among other events. The plan is called a Hazard Mitigation Plan, and the process to update it will be funded through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

“The Plan describes the natural hazard events that have impacted the County and identifies activities and projects to reduce the risk to residents, property, and infrastructure,” said Scott Anderson, Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator. “By having an updated hazard mitigation plan, the County and participating jurisdictions will become eligible for federal funds to carry out these projects and activities,” he added.

The Iroquois County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee will hold its first meeting on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 6:30 P.M. The meeting will be in the MABAS 37 Building, 103½ Main St., Crescent City (behind Ailey’s Welding Shop). The meeting is open to the public.

The Planning Committee includes representatives from the county, townships, municipalities, schools, fire protection districts, and healthcare services, as well as technical partners and other stakeholders. Meetings of this committee will be conducted over the next year as working sessions so that any interested residents can attend and ask questions. The purpose of these working sessions is to gather and discuss information that will be used to update the Plan.

“This mitigation plan is different from the County’s emergency response plan because it focuses on ways to reduce and prevent damages before they occur,” added Anderson.