Crittenden County leadership wants your input

Residents asked to weigh in on disaster mitigation plans

By Ralph Hardin

news@theeveningtimes.com

Disaster can strike without warning. And as the recent hurricane-related tragedies in the Southeastern United States have proven, even with preparation time, planning and warnings, there is still the potential for death and destruction from natural disasters, hazardous materialrelated accidents and other unforeseen incidents. Even now, residents in Florida are bracing for yet another tropical storm. With an eye on being prepared for disaster right here in Crittenden County, local officials are asking the community for insights and ideas to update the County’s Disaster Mitigation Plan.

“We need your input,” said Crittenden County Judge Woody Wheeless. “Disasters can cause loss of life, damage buildings and infrastructure, and have devastating consequences for community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being.”

Crittenden County has an Office of Emergerncy Management. The City of West Memphis has an OEM as well. They partnet regularly with regional and state agencies to help spread information about pending potentially hazardous weather, air quality and other vital news.

“Creating a comprehensive, long-term hazard mitigation plan is an effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters,” said Wheeless. “A hazard mitigation plan is a communitydriven, living document that encourages communities to integrate mitigation strategies that will reduce the impacts of future events on people, property, and the environment. Involving stakeholders and the general public is essential to building community-wide support for the plan.”

The East Arkansas Planning & Development District is currently working with Crittenden County to update their local hazard mitigation plan and they are welcoming input from area residents.

“We are asking for your involvement in the Crittenden County Hazard Mitigation Plan by emailing critten-den@ eapdd.com with any comments you may have,” said Wheeless. “What are some of the hazards you’ve seen in your Crittenden County? How high are these risks, and do you have action items or proposed mitigation projects that would mitigate those risks?”

All comments are welcome.

The last day for comments to be submitted is Thursday, Oct.. 31.

WHEELESS