Public Input Sought on Hazard Mitigation Plan

Maui Civil Defense siren. File photo by Wendy Osher.

By Maui Now Staff

The Maui County Civil Defense Agency will hold the first of a series of public meetings to develop a planning process to prepare for impacts of natural disasters on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Maui County Emergency Operations Center.

The meetings, which will be organized by a technical consultant and a steering committee of stakeholders, will be held every first Friday of the month as needed. The overall planning process, led by the Maui County Civil Defense Agency, is expected to take 10 months to complete.

During the planning process, citizens will be asked to share local knowledge of an area’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences. Public involvement will be solicited through a multimedia campaign that will include public meetings, web-based information, questionnaires and updates on the plan’s progress via the news media.

The county’s current hazard mitigation plan is being updated in response to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390). The goal is to finalize the hazard mitigation plan that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area.

An informational website on the plan and purposes for planning has been established at www.mauicounty.gov/civildefense; click on “Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan” on the left menu. The website will serve as the primary means for the public to gain information on the plan and ways that they can participate in the planning process. The public is highly encouraged to provide input on all phases of this plan’s development.

Questions or comments regarding this process are encouraged and should be directed to Anna Foust at Maui County Civil Defense Agency: call (808) 270-728; email [email protected].

The EOC is located at 200 S. High St. in the basement of the County Building.