Franklin County Commissioners Adopt Hazard Mitigation Plan

Franklin County Commissioners recently passed a resolution to adopt the Franklin County 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan, bringing a 15-month long updating process almost to a close. Led by Franklin County Department of Emergency Services, the process involved a team of county, municipal, school district, and local industry leaders as well as members of the Franklin County general public. There was 100% participation from all 22 Franklin County municipalities.

“The Department of Emergency Services did a great job of engaging all municipalities, ensuring that this plan will help to improve preparedness for each of them as well as for our county overall,” said Commissioner and Chairman Dave Keller.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan compiles information on natural and man-made hazards and risks prevalent in Franklin County, and includes proposed actions to be implemented, ahead of disasters, to reduce loss and damages. The plan is a foundational document that helps define the threat environment for all emergency preparedness and planning efforts in the county, and supports the goals and objectives identified in the Pennsylvania State Hazard Mitigation Plan.  

“Many counties use an outside agency to prepare or update these plans due to the level of effort required. However, we were confident that we had the in-house staff to complete this project,” stated John Thierwechter, Franklin County Department of Emergency Services Director. “Our team, and in particular Bob Povlich, did an outstanding job with this plan update. Not only did we end up with a superior product, we also deepened our relationship with the municipal stakeholders,” he added.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires that counties formally update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every 5 years and every mitigation grant program sponsored by FEMA requires applicants to have a federally-approved plan. The final 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan has been approved by both the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and FEMA. The next step is for the plan to be adopted at the local level with each municipality passing a resolution stating adoption of the plan.

For more information on the Franklin County Hazard Mitigation Plan, contact Emergency Management Coordinator Jacob Crider or HMP Planning Coordinator Bob Povlich at the Franklin County Department of Emergency Services, (717) 264-2813. The updated Hazard Mitigation Plan can be viewed here: http://franklincountypa.gov/ckeditorfiles/files/Emergency-Services/DES/Hazard%20Mitigation%20Plan%202019.pdf .

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