Ashe County needs your assistance and input.

Residents are invited to air their ideas on hazards from natural disaster in a meting at Ashe County Courthouse, Tuesday.

Ashe County is updating a Hazard Mitigation Plan that reviews the county’s and all three municipalities’ risks and vulnerabilities to natural hazards, lists critical facilities that are at risk and outlines strategies designed to reduce damages incurred during natural disasters.

To assist in this endeavor, Ashe has reorganized a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee that is seeking input from Ashe County citizens on the plan and ideas on mitigation strategies that would benefit local communities.

The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and North Carolina General Statutes require all local governments to update hazard mitigation plans a minimum of every five years in order to qualify for federal disaster relief funding in the future. The goal is for local governments to take steps to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards, as well as reduce disaster recovery costs.

Mitigation strategies under consideration include seeking voluntary participation in FEMA buyouts; supporting stream bank stabilization projects; and continuing to promote public awareness of mitigation actions to take for all natural disasters affecting Ashe County.

If you have questions, comments or ideas concerning the update of the county’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, an open meeting will be held at the Ashe County Courthouse (third floor commissioners courtroom) at 5:15 p.m. March 31 for the Ashe County Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee. Public involvement and comments are encouraged and needed in this process. If you have any questions prior to the meeting, please contact Emergency Management Coordinator Patty McMeans at (336) 846-5521.