Reduce Risks from Natural Hazards: Philadelphia Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Meeting

Reducing Risks from Natural Hazards:
Phase 1 Rollout of Philadelphia’s Draft Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan
Public Meeting: Thursday, December 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Salvation Army Roxborough Corps' Community Center, 6730 Ridge Avenue

The Managing Director’s Office of Emergency Management invites the public to learn about the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan being developed for Philadelphia. Phase One of the plan will be rolled out on Thursday, December 15, 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The salvation Army Roxobrough Corps' Community Center, 6730 Ridge Avenue. (Snow date will be Saturday, December 17 at 10:30 to 12:30 p.m.)  

Between 5:30 and 6:00 p.m., residents will view a series of poster displays featuring the natural hazards. The Office of Emergency Management will provide a brief presentation about the development of the Hazard Mitigation Plan at 6:30 p.m. After the presentation, residents will have more time to review the poster displays and provide their feedback and concerns about natural hazards in their community.

Phase One of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan will address a comprehensive list of natural hazards -- droughts, floods, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, wind storms and tornadoes, hurricanes and tropical storms, Nor’easters, and severe winter storms -- that may impact Philadelphia. The purpose of the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan is to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to human life or property from natural disasters through cost-effective and sustained mitigation actions.

“We welcome the public to join us on December 15 to offer their thoughts about the natural hazards of concern to them and businesses in their community,” said Deputy Managing Director for Emergency Management Liam O’Keefe.

The Office of Emergency Management will hold a series of meetings from mid-December through mid-February throughout Philadelphia to rollout the various phases of the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. Additional phases of the plan will focus on risk assessments of the natural hazards, as well as identifying short and long-term mitigation strategies for reducing risks associated with the natural hazards.

The public is encouraged to visit www.phila.gov/ready to:

• Find more information about natural hazards that can affect Philadelphia;
• Obtain a listing of future public meetings about the plan;
• Learn how to prepare for natural hazards; and
• Sign up for emergency text alerts from ReadyNotifyPA

The public can submit comments about the plan through several options:

• Attending a public meeting and completing a Natural Hazards Plan Questionnaire
• Sending an email to oem@phila.gov
• Calling 3-1-1 to request a copy of the Natural Hazards Plan Questionnaire
• Questionnaires must be completed and submitted to the Office of Emergency Management by February 16, 2012.