Regional planner presents Wallingford's midpoint draft of the 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Maggie O'Brien, representing the Rutland Regional Planning Commission, presented the midpoint draft of Wallingford's 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and explained the next steps in the review process. She said the plan identifies and ranks natural hazards facing the town — including flooding, extreme cold and snow, strong wind, extreme heat and wildfire — and maps vulnerabilities for people, infrastructure, the environment and the economy.

O'Brien said the update was funded through a municipal planning grant from the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and that the state and FEMA use a review rubric; elements a and b of the plan had been completed. She emphasized that once adopted the plan is not legally binding but provides access to FEMA funding after federally declared disasters and includes goals and actions the town could undertake. She opened the public comment period running July 20 to Aug. 3 and encouraged the Select Board to schedule a slot for public comments at the Aug. 3 meeting. O'Brien also provided enlarged hazard maps for residents to review and invited further submissions to maggi@rrpc (provided as contact in presentation).

The presentation noted new FEMA expectations for public engagement and described a social resilience pilot that informed outreach strategies. Board members thanked O'Brien for the comprehensive work and discussed opportunities to include local emergency services and to fine-tune action items addressing invasive species such as emerald ash borer. The planning team will reconvene to incorporate comments and prepare mitigation strategies, with a target of returning to the board for mid-October review and an anticipated state review request in early November.