Muscatine County adopts updated multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan

The Muscatine County Board of Supervisors adopted Resolution 03092601 on March 9, 2026, formally approving an updated multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan that a consultant team prepared for the county and participating jurisdictions.

Lisa Ahern of ByState, who worked on the update with colleague Natalie Murphy, told the board the team corrected several technical items, including Fruitland’s National Flood Insurance Program participation status, an incorrect website link for Combsville and a clarification that Muscatine Power and Water operates certain wells rather than the city. "Having a plan updated makes your community continue to be eligible for FEMA-funded projects that fund really critical infrastructure projects," Ahern said.

Supervisors asked how Fruitland’s NFIP status changed and whether residents were notified; staff said the city adopted an ordinance and that required public hearings and publication when the city made the change. No members of the public spoke during the county’s hearing.

After the presentation the board closed the public hearing by motion and then voted to adopt the plan. County staff said the next step is submittal to Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management for review and then referral to FEMA.

The adopted plan documents jurisdiction-specific corrections and will be used to support future mitigation projects that may be eligible for federal funding. The board thanked the consultant team and county staff for their work on the update.