Natural and man-made hazards present risks throughout Minnesota. Rain and snow bring threats of flooding and utility failure. At any time, we may need to respond to the impacts of fire or tornado, riot or radiation. Our local units of government, first responders and emergency managers effectively respond to hazards as they occur. We can also protect our communities by planning for hazard mitigation before disaster strikes.

What is hazard mitigation? The American Planning Association guide Hazard Mitigation: Integrating Best Practices into Planning offers that “Mitigation, a cornerstone of emergency management, is defined as taking sustained actions to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks to people and property from hazards.”

All Hazards Mitigation Planning

SRDC works with local units of government in Southwest Minnesota to meet the US Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Minnesota Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) requirements for multi-hazard mitigation planning.

The purpose of County All Hazard Mitigation Plans (AHMP) are to determine how to reduce property damage and loss of life resulting from natural and manmade hazards.  County AHMPs include resources and information to assist county residents, public and private sector organizations, and others interested in participating in planning for both natural and manmade hazards.  This mitigation plan identifies hazards that pose a threat to Jackson County, as well as what is currently being done to mitigate their impacts.  The plan also provides a list of actions and programs that may enable a county to further reduce negative impacts caused by disasters.  The implementation strategies address both natural and manmade hazards that include but are not limited to flooding, drought, severe summer and winter storms, fires, and tornados.

The following plans have been recently completed and adopted by local jurisdictions: {fix pdf}