Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan - Update

November 19, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

COUNTY DRAFT 2024 HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 

 AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC REVIEW AND COMMENT

In February 2024, a coalition from Pend Oreille County which included County representatives, the Kalispel Tribe of Indians, the city of Newport, towns of Cusick, Ione, Metaline, and Metaline Falls, Pend Oreille County’s Conservation District, Public Utilities District, Port District, and Health District, all of its school districts, and its fire service providers throughout the County embarked on a planning process to prepare for impacts of disasters.

Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), the coalition was formed to pool resources and create a uniform hazard mitigation strategy that can be consistently applied to the defined planning area. This planning coalition has now completed that effort. The planning process was led by Pend Oreille County Office of Emergency Management with support from Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the primary technical consultant.  The project was funded, in part, by a planning grant from FEMA. 

During this process, citizens were asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of the County’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences, as well as identify initiatives which could help reduce the level of impact of those hazards. Public involvement was solicited via a multi-media campaign that included: press releases; public council/board presentations and meetings; web-based information; questionnaires, and presentation at the County Fair. 

The process culminated with the development of the Draft 2024 Pend Oreille County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is now available for public review and comment at the informational website established for this planning effort at:

Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan - Update | Pend Oreille County WA

A hard copy of the plan is available for review at the Pend Oreille County Commissioners’ Office, 625 W 4^th Street, Newport. 

The public is highly encouraged to provide input on the draft plan to JoAnn Boggs, Pend Oreille County Emergency Manager at JBoggs [at] pendoreille.org (JBoggs[at]pendoreille[dot]org) or via phone at (509) 447-3731, or the consultant providing assistance during development of this plan, Bev O’Dea at Bevodea [at] Bridgeviewconsulting.org (Bevodea[at]Bridgeviewconsulting[dot]org) (253) 301-1330.  The comment period will begin November 19, 2024, and will run until December 9, 2024.

###

February 14, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PEND OREILLE COUNTY AND ITS PLANNING PARTNERS TO UPDATE THE 

COUNTY’S MULTI-JURISDICTION HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN 

Pend Oreille County, its jurisdictions, special purpose districts, and the Kalispel Tribe are embarking on a planning process to prepare for impacts of natural disasters. Responding to federal mandates in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390), Pend Oreille County Department of Emergency Management will update its 2019 Hazard Mitigation Plan to enhance resilience throughout the County. 

This planning process is being led by JoAnn Boggs, Deputy Director of Pend Oreille County’s Department of Emergency Management, with support from Beverly O’Dea of Bridgeview Consulting, LLC, the hired technical consultant.  This project is funded by a planning grant from FEMA. The planning process will take approximately nine to twelve months to complete. 

During this process, local citizens will be asked to contribute by sharing knowledge of the area’s vulnerability to hazards based on past occurrences. Public involvement will be solicited via a multi-media campaign that will include public meetings, web-based information, questionnaires, maps, and updates on the plan’s progress via a website. This process will be directed by a Planning Team made up of representatives from local jurisdictions, special purpose districts, Kalispel Tribal members, citizens, and other stakeholders from within the planning area. This Hazard Mitigation Planning Team will meet as needed throughout the process.  Notice of the date and time of these meetings will be posted on the County’s website.

An informational website on the plan and purposes for planning has been established at: https://www.pendoreilleco.gov/emergency-management. This website will serve as the primary means for the public to gain information on the plan and ways that they can participate in the planning process. The public is highly encouraged to provide input on all phases of this plan’s development to JoAnn Boggs, Pend Oreille County Emergency Manager, JoAnn Boggs, at JBoggs [at] pendoreille.org (JBoggs[at]pendoreille[dot]org) or via phone at (509) 447-3731, or the consultant providing assistance during development of this plan, Bev O’Dea at Bevodea [at] Bridgeviewconsulting.org (Bevodea[at]Bridgeviewconsulting[dot]org) (253) 301-1330.