Marshall County Emergency Management Director and consultant for Kosciusko County Clyde Avery.

WARSAW — Kosciusko’s hazard mitigation plan is in the process of being updated. Last updated in 2009, FEMA requires hazard mitigation plans to be reviewed every five years. The Nov. 2 meeting, the third of four, was meant to be a public meeting to hear public questions and concerns, but no public attended.

The update is required to be eligible for future FEMA grants to improve flooding conditions, early warning systems, disaster shelters, drainage concerns and more. The committee for the review consists of representatives from cities and towns within Kosciusko, including local emergency responders, Kosciusko Area Planner Matt Sandy and city engineer James Emans.

Clyde Avery, emergency management director for Marshall County, was hired by Kosciusko Emergency Management Director Ed Rock as a consultant to help with the update process. With Avery’s help, the team reevaluated issues and priorities from the 2009 plan, creating a new list of priorities.

In a public survey asking questions about hazard mitigation planning priority and feelings of preparedness, 363 people participated. Despite Rock’s best efforts to inform the public that emergency plans are available, 53 percent of participants felt that they had never been given information to be prepared in an emergency situation.

The survey also gave insight into the education that may still be needed to inform the public of risks within the county. Those surveyed felt winter storms ranked highest in priority for hazard mitigation, rating flooding as lowest. The committee, in contrast, ranked flooding as the highest priority as damages can be significant and there is little warning.

Hazard mitigation doesn’t only concern natural disasters, but “man-made” disasters as well. This includes mass shootings, bombings and other attacks.

For information on how to be prepared in an emergency, visit the county emergency management webpage.