McKinley County emergency manager briefs school board on hazard mitigation plan update; public input planned for October

Adam Berry, McKinley County emergency manager, told the Gallup-McKinley County Schools Board of Education that the county is leading an update of its multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and that the school district is a participating signatory.

Berry said the plan, which needs to be refreshed every five years, currently expires in February 2026. The update will include hazards such as dam failures, winter storms, severe storms, drought, extreme temperatures, wildfire, thunderstorms and flooding. The county is working with SWCA Environmental Consultants (Albuquerque) as a contractor and has established a local planning team with representatives of McKinley County, the City of Gallup and Gallup McKinley County Schools.

The emergency manager described mitigation examples (vegetation/fuels reduction for wildfires, erosion control and flood mitigation infrastructure, public education) and said a public involvement period is planned for October and November, with a draft plan expected by the end of the calendar year for FEMA and state review. Berry said the county expects a presentation to the school board again in late winter or early spring so the board can adopt the updated plan.

Assistant Superintendent Katherine Kliesler introduced the topic to the board and framed the update as necessary both to comply with grant-application requirements and to support public policy and planning. Board members had no substantive questions during the presentation.

No formal board action was taken at the meeting; the briefing was informational.