Pittsboro, NC – As part of a regional effort to reduce the vulnerability from natural and man-made disasters that Chatham County faces, the Emergency Management Department is requesting public feedback on natural disaster risk and preparedness. This planning effort includes the towns of Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston.
Public feedback will assist Chatham, Harnett, Lee, Moore and Johnston Counties to combine existing local and regional hazard mitigation plans into one, updated regional plan which can be shared by all the counties and the towns within them. A Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies and assesses the hazards and threats a community faces and determines the best ways to prevent, minimize and manage those risks.
“Maintaining a valid Hazard Mitigation Plan is very important for Chatham County, because this allows the County, the Towns of Pittsboro, Siler City and Goldston, along with private businesses and homeowners to receive federal funding from FEMA for projects that make the community safer and more resilient towards hazards,” said Chatham County Emergency Management Director Steve Newton. “For every dollar that is spent on Hazard Mitigation projects, six dollars are saved in the future from preventing damages. These projects can be funded before a disaster but only if Chatham County has completed this Hazard Mitigation Plan process.”
Virtual Public Meeting
Chatham County residents may participate in a virtual public meeting on August 26, 2020 at 11 a.m. Community members may access the GoToMeeting at this link. They may also dial in at 646-749-3122, access code 124-499-3122. Through this forum, the public is welcome to ask questions and provide feedback on the Hazard Mitigation Plan.
More information about the Hazard Mitigation Plan may be found on this fact sheet or the Cape Fear Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan website. Individuals who have questions or want to learn more about disaster preparedness and mitigation, may contact Colby Sawyer with Chatham County Emergency Management by phone at 919-545-8191 or email at .