Broadwater County adopts 2024 Western Montana regional hazard mitigation plan

Broadwater County commissioners adopted the 2024 Western Montana regional hazard mitigation plan, a multi-jurisdictional document intended to identify hazards and position the county for mitigation and recovery funding from federal programs.

Britney (emergency management staff) told the board the plan took more than three years to prepare and that it identifies natural hazards and secondary threats to county people and property. She said an adopted mitigation plan is a condition for future mitigation funding under Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs. The county’s adoption will allow the plan to move to final FEMA review.

Commissioners and staff noted the plan initially lacked city input but that the mayor and county staff have since coordinated so the city can adopt its portion and make localized edits through the state. Emergency management staff said they will provide a copy to the sheriff’s office and the mitigation team and maintain a contact for future updates. The county will submit the adopted plan to the state for final processing.

A resolution adopting the plan was read into the record and approved by voice vote. Commissioners thanked staff for their multi-year work; the staff member who led the project indicated it was her second to last day in the county office.

The board requested a printed copy of the plan for the commissioners’ office and asked staff to pass on the plan and contact information to the mitigation team for future updates. The plan will remain subject to revisions required for final FEMA approval but adoption will not require the county to readopt minor subsequent iterations, staff said.