COLUMBUS — The County Office of Emergency Management is working through the process of creating and reviewing the county’s official Hazard Mitigation Plan to help the county prepare for potential risks and apply for natural disaster grants or similar funds. On March 7, the Langford Community Management Service held a public meeting where residents could come and express concerns and point out hot spot areas for hazards.
With several new housing developments already planned and expected in the future, creating a HMP with proactive policies for the expected population growth is of the utmost importance according to officials.
Areas like low water crossing areas and flood plains were discussed and targeted as flooding is an emergency in the Colorado County HMP. Wildfire destruction and property damage were also topics of discussion as the county experienced a rash of fires throughout a summer with record-breaking heat averages.
Langford representative Gabriel Rojas allowed the residents in attendance to mark on a map of the county with pins and sticky notes to mark different locations with potential hazards. Many of the people in attendance were city government officials and department leaders.
The HMP will remain in the public input portion as the Office of Emergency Management hopes to get unreported damages due to hazards that can be potentially planned for in the future. Follow the link at https://www.co.colorado.tx.us/upload/page/6211/HMP%20Flyer%20Update.pdf to find a survey to report any personal experiences with hazards or damages that may not have been reported initially.