Winneshiek County adopts FEMA‑approved 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Winneshiek County Board of Supervisors on Monday unanimously adopted the county’s updated five‑year Hazard Mitigation Plan, a FEMA‑approved document developed with a countywide steering committee and public input.

Sean Snyder, Winneshiek County emergency management coordinator, introduced the item and said the plan update included outreach and public meetings in every city and a public-review period. Michelle, the consultant engaged by the county to lead the update, told supervisors the process included a countywide steering committee and a survey that drew roughly 80–90 responses.

Michelle said the plan organizes risks and prioritized mitigation actions for jurisdictions across the county, and includes a short, linked summary by city so local officials can find mitigation strategies that apply to their community. The plan emphasizes severe storms, flooding and other local hazards; Michelle said the county had shortened and simplified the document compared with earlier iterations while retaining required FEMA content.

Ben presented the resolution to adopt the Hazard Mitigation Plan and the board voted to adopt it (resolution cited as the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan). Snyder and Michelle said the county will post the plan online and that FEMA approval is necessary to maintain eligibility for some federal mitigation funding and programs.

Supervisors praised the work by the consultant and county staff and noted the plan provides a countywide inventory of mitigation actions and responsible parties. Michelle and Snyder said the plan contains an implementation table with suggested actions for towns and the county to pursue over the five‑year cycle.

The board’s formal adoption preserves the county’s status with FEMA programs that require a current, approved mitigation plan for grant eligibility; the plan’s implementation schedule and project list remain subject to future budget and planning decisions.