Grays Harbor County is updating its hazard mitigation plan and the public can provide its input at a meeting in the PUD Nichols Building March 21 from 2-4 p.m.

The hazard mitigation plan identifies and ranks risks to areas of the county and provides a plan for preparing for natural disasters. The public is encouraged to participate in the plan’s update and offer their personal knowledge of areas of vulnerability based on past occurrences.

According to Aberdeen city engineer Kris Koski, the hazard mitigation planning team recently completed a risk assessment and is holding this public outreach session to allow the public an opportunity to review information, provide comments, and provide input. During the session, maps and posters illustrating areas of concern and other data will be available for review and comment. Presentations will also be made by various members of the planning team.

“Citizen input is vital to assisting the agencies involved in this process to accurately present information in the hazard mitigation plan,” said Koski. “Hazards to which our community are at risk include earthquake, tsunami, flood, landslide, severe weather, climate change, drought, wildfire, volcano, and erosion. Our community’s local agencies are committed to understanding these risks and developing strategies to reduce the impact that these hazards may have on our community.”

The final plan will be available for review by citizens in mid to late April. Citizens should continue to view the county’s website for information on this effort, as they will be provided another opportunity to review and comment on the final plan prior to its submission to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Koski.

Agencies participating in the session include the cities of Aberdeen, Cosmopolis and Hoquiam, Grays Harbor College, Grays Harbor Community Hospital, Grays Harbor County, Grays Harbor Fire District No. 2, Grays Harbor Transit, and the Port of Grays Harbor.

The PUD Nichols Building is located at 220 Myrtle Street in Hoquiam.