County of Sonoma to Develop Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Sonoma County, the Cities of Santa Rosa, Cotati, Sonoma, Sebastopol, the Town of Windsor, the Sonoma County Ag + Open Space District, Sonoma County Fire Districts, and both the Gold Ridge and Sonoma Resource Conservation Districts are collaborating on an update to the 2016 Sonoma County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan with a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The County has retained the services of Tetra Tech, Inc. Tetra Tech is an industry leader and has assisted other jurisdictions with similar efforts. The purpose of this coordinated effort is to use science-based decision making in our collective effort to identify and implement natural hazard risk reduction projects throughout the County. 

During this process, participants will be asked to contribute by sharing local knowledge of an area’s exposure to hazards based on your agency’s history in our community.  Public involvement is an essential part of the planning process and members of the public from all over Sonoma County are encouraged to get involved. Opportunities will be offered via a multimedia campaign that will include public meetings, web based information, questionnaires and updates on the plan’s progress via the news media.  This process will be overseen by a Steering Committee made up of stakeholders of a diverse, interdisciplinary group of experts in emergency management and community members.  This Steering Committee will meet monthly throughout the planning process.  These meetings will open to the public. Until further notice, all meetings will be held virtually due to the Impacts from the response to COVID-19.

“Given the complexities of emergencies in Sonoma County, partaking in a collaborative planning approach with robust community engagement will allow the County to reduce future risk to people and property from natural hazards,” stated Board of Supervisors Chair Susan Gorin, “hazard planning is an absolutely essential component of keeping our community safe from potential disaster.”

More information as well as a calendar of public engagement opportunities, when they are scheduled, will be available on the Permit Sonoma Hazard Mitigation Plan webpages.

Individual questions or comments regarding this project and engagement process are encouraged and should be directed to Lisa Hulette, Permit Sonoma Grant Manager at Lisa.Hulette@sonoma-county.org

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