Evansville-Vanderburgh County is beginning the process to update the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan to better protect the people and property of Evansville-Vanderburgh County from the effects of natural hazard events and to obtain eligibility for mitigation funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). 

What Is a Hazard Mitigation Plan?

A hazard mitigation plan is the result of a planning process to determine how to reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property damage resulting from hazards.  This plan will address a comprehensive list of natural hazards – ranging from flooding and earthquakes to tornadoes, and severe winter weather.  The plan will assess the likely impacts of these hazards to Evansville-Vanderburgh County.  

This planning process is structured around four phases:  Phase 1:  Organize Resources, Phase 2:   Assess Risks, Phase 3:   Develop a Mitigation Plan, and Phase 4:  Implement the Plan and Monitor Progress.   These four phases are further broken down into 10 steps, shown in the box above.

Why is it Important to Me?

It is important for citizens to become involved in mitigation planning in their community.  The planning team needs your input on the types of hazards that are your priority concern.  Your opinion on ways to prevent or lessen the impacts of hazards is also valuable input for the planning team. 

What Can I do to Participate?

Please visit the County’s website where you will find information on the current Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan and information about upcoming events and planning meetings: https://www.evansvillegov.org/index.aspx?page=2547

The planning team would like your input on a public survey.  This survey captures public opinion on the hazards that are the most significant to you as well as the types of activities that you think will help prevent or reduce losses:  https://www.evansvillegov.org/index.aspx?page=2547

Planning Status

The planning team is currently working within Phase 1:  Organize Resources.  On May 31, 2017, the planning team will participate in a kick-off meeting to organize the planning effort, plan for public involvement opportunities and initiate coordination with other departments and agencies. 

We had a successful Kick off meeting on  May 31st with approx 30 local stake holders in attendance. Our next meeting will occur on June 27th from 12:30 - 4:30 at the EMA Office located in the Vanderburgh County Corrections Complex this will be the Risk Assessment and Mitigation Strategy. 

The next meeting is a Public Meeting to review the Draft Plan and gather public input. The public meeting will be on July 12th at the Evansville Central Library Downtown at 4:30 PM in the Browning Room. 

Not Able to attend the Meeting: Take the Survey Online Today:

Implementation of the Plan is the Ultimate Goal!

The ultimate goal of this planning process is implementation of mitigation actions that will prevent or lessen the impacts of hazards to people and property in your community.  An example is the elevation of structures that repeatedly flood, reducing structural damage in the event of future flooding.