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Commission hears update: county hazard mitigation plan returned with initial PEMA comments
Summary
Planning staff reported that the county's draft hazard mitigation plan was submitted to PEMA and received a first round of state comments; staff said municipalities will need to adopt updated resolutions promptly for FEMA recognition and future emergency funding eligibility.
County planning staff told the commission that the draft Perry County hazard mitigation plan completed a public review period and was submitted to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) for initial review. Staff said Ernie Zabel at PEMA returned the state's first round of comments to the county on the day of the meeting.
Staff described the next steps: county and municipal revisions addressing PEMA’s comments, a subsequent submission to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for federal review, and then municipal adoption of resolutions recognizing the updated plan. Staff emphasized that municipalities must adopt updated hazard mitigation resolutions promptly; without an up-to-date plan and resolutions in place, local governments may not be eligible for certain FEMA emergency funding or formal recognition.
Commission members asked whether staff would provide a resolution template and conduct outreach to municipalities. Staff said the county will prepare draft resolution language and visit municipalities as needed to explain requirements and collect signed resolutions. The commission discussed timing and agreed to encourage municipalities to move quickly once PEMA and FEMA approvals proceed.
No formal action on the hazard mitigation plan was taken at the meeting; staff will continue to coordinate revisions with PEMA and aim to advance the plan to FEMA once the state comments are addressed.
