Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Identifying Natural Hazards and Assessing Regional Vulnerability

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is in the process of updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for all localities within the planning district. The plan will help our communities take action to prepare for natural disasters beforehand, thus reducing loss of life and property damage when they do occur.

Drafts of the first two sections of the plan have been completed and are available here for public review (Hazard Identification and Analysis, Vulnerability Assessment). The Hazard Identification and Analysis section identifies all possible natural hazards for our region, analyzes the extent and severity of their impact, and prioritizes them accordingly. The Vulnerability Assessment compares the region’s susceptibility to hazards with existing and projected development, in order to assess our region’s vulnerability to natural disasters. Economic losses and human impact are estimated for various hazard scenarios. For more information contact Daniel Nairn at dnairn@tjpdc.org or (434)979-7310 x290.

Hazard mitigation saves lives and reduces property damage in the event of a natural disaster. If sustained actions are taken before an emergency situation ever arises, the chances of a lessened impact and a speedy recovery can be greatly enhanced. A resilient community requires carefully and systematic planning.

The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is in the process of updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for all localities within the Planning District. The original plan was adopted by all localities in the region and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) in 2005, after an 18-month process of public participation and technical analysis. The update will expand upon this work by incorporating new data on natural disasters, as well as revisiting and updating initial strategies based on an evaluation of success.

The primary purpose of hazard mitigation planning is to identify potential risk areas, such as flood plains, and develop plans to make communities and businesses more resistant to damage from natural hazards. Unlike emergency operations plans or disaster preparedness, this plan seeks to develop ways to lessen the impact of natural disasters on the region's resources through strategic, long range planning. The overall goal of hazard mitigation is to save lives and reduce property damage.

The public is encouraged to participate throughout this planning process. Drafts of the plan and supporting resources will be made available on this page as they are completed:

• Complete 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Executive Summary of 2005 Hazard Mitigation Plan

For more information about the Regional Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee or to provide input on the plan, contact Billie Campbell at 434-979-7310 or bcampbell@tjpdc.org.