Committee forwards Polk County multi‑hazard mitigation plan to county board after FEMA review

Polk County emergency management and a regional planner briefed the committee on a comprehensive multi‑hazard mitigation plan and the committee voted to forward a resolution adopting the plan to the full county board.

Lisa McMahon, Polk County emergency manager, and Chris Strait of the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission explained that the plan identifies county hazards, vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies and must be updated every five years to remain eligible for FEMA mitigation grants. Strait said the county’s draft plan met FEMA requirements after review and highlighted that the planning process engaged cities, villages, towns, schools, utilities and other stakeholders.

Strait and McMahon cited examples of projects enabled by having an approved plan: coordinated buyouts of flood‑prone mobile homes, and a gym in the Luck School District built to serve as a 1,400‑person safe room funded with about $2.2 million in grant dollars. Strait said the program of plans across the region has helped secure nearly $19 million in mitigation grant funding in prior cycles.

Vote and significance The committee moved and seconded a resolution (Resolution 9‑25) to forward the multi‑hazard mitigation plan to the full county board for adoption. The motion was seconded by Supervisor Doug Rowdy and carried by voice vote with committee approval; the committee chair called the motion “carried.” McMahon and Strait emphasized that county adoption preserves eligibility for FEMA mitigation grants and for the Wisconsin Pre‑disaster Flood Resiliency Grant, and that cities, villages and participating institutions may adopt subplans to pursue grants individually.

Why it matters County adoption keeps Polk County eligible for a range of mitigation grants—used in the past for flood buyouts, safe room construction and power‑line hardening—and fosters multi‑agency planning for emergency prevention and response.