Wilmington Council Adopts County Hazard Mitigation Plan

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Wilmington City Council approved the adoption of the updated Clinton County Hazard Mitigation Plan during a recent meeting. The plan, which must be updated every five years, identifies hazards affecting the county and outlines strategies local governments can use to reduce the impact of future disasters. The plan has already been reviewed and accepted by the Ohio EMA, and each community must formally adopt it for it to take effect.

Why it matters

The hazard mitigation plan is a federally required document that helps communities qualify for disaster assistance funding. Without an approved plan in place, Wilmington may not be eligible for certain federal mitigation funding through the Stafford Act in the event of a disaster.

The details

Clinton County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Thomas Breckel told council that the plan identifies hazards affecting the county, with a focus on natural hazards, and outlines strategies local governments can use to reduce the impact of future disasters. The resulting mitigation plan is over 1,000 pages because it includes documentation from surveys, meetings and other materials gathered during the planning process. It also reflects changes since the previous version, including population shifts and updated rankings of hazards affecting the county.

• The hazard mitigation plan must be updated every five years as required by the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act.
• The county's current mitigation plan expires in March 2026, making it important for jurisdictions to adopt the updated plan so it can be submitted to FEMA.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Without an approved plan in place, communities may not be eligible for certain federal mitigation funding through the Stafford Act.