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Regional planners present midpoint Local Hazard Mitigation Plan; public comment open through Aug. 3
Summary
Rutland Regional Planning Commission presented a midpoint draft of Wallingford's 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, identifying flooding, extreme cold, wind, heat, wildfire and invasive species among highest risks; the public comment period runs July 20–August 3 with a proposed final submission to Vermont Emergency Management in early November.
Maggie O’Brien of the Rutland Regional Planning Commission presented the midpoint draft of Wallingford’s 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan at the select board meeting July 20, outlining hazard identification, risk assessment, and community-specific vulnerability profiles.
O’Brien noted that, among the hazards examined, flooding, extreme cold and snow/ice, strong winds, extreme heat and wildfires scored highest for Wallingford. She explained that the plan is not legally binding but makes the town eligible for FEMA funding after a federally declared disaster and provides a strategy for mitigation. "Once adopted this plan is not legally binding. Instead, it outlines goals and actions to prevent future loss of life and property," she said. The planning team cited municipal planning grant funding and a pilot social resilience outreach program that informed community engagement. O’Brien encouraged the board to schedule time on August 3 to collect local comments during the board meeting so the planning team can proceed to develop mitigation strategies.
