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Crook County adopts updated multi‑jurisdictional natural hazards mitigation plan
Summary
The Crook County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted resolution 2025‑31 to adopt the county's updated multi‑jurisdictional natural hazards mitigation plan, which FEMA has accepted and which adds drought, wildfire smoke/air quality and high‑hazard dams as priorities.
The Crook County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 6 adopted resolution 2025‑31 formally approving the county’s updated multi‑jurisdictional natural hazards mitigation plan, preserving the county’s eligibility for Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grants.
“The NHMP has been accepted by FEMA, which is great news,” AJ Crawford, emergency manager for Shelby NYPIC, told commissioners during the meeting. Crawford said the update preserves Crook County’s ability to apply for federal mitigation funds and integrates mitigation work with local land‑use planning.
Why it matters: Adoption preserves federal grant eligibility for mitigation projects and updates the county’s assessment of likely hazards and vulnerabilities. The 18‑month planning process added drought (not previously included), air‑quality risks tied to wildfire smoke and extreme heat, and identified high‑hazard potential dams. The steering committee identified 27 mitigation actions and selected nine high‑priority items focused on flood, drought and wildfire.
County staff said the plan included a new addendum for Crook County Fire and Rescue — the first time the agency has its own appendix — and an inventory of critical facilities and infrastructure vulnerabilities. Next steps noted by staff include submitting the adopted plan to FEMA for a final approval letter and coordinating local addenda adoption by the City of Pineville and Crook County Fire and Rescue, which staff said are scheduled to adopt the addenda later in August.
A motion to approve the resolution passed without further discussion. Commissioners called the vote in favor; recorded vocal affirmations included “Hermerich, aye” and “Barney, aye.” Staff said the plan will be revisited in five years, with the next required update due in 2030.
The plan’s priority actions include expanding public safety education on flood, drought and wildfire risks, improving irrigation efficiency, studying alternate water storage for drought response, and updating FEMA flood maps.
