FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Revised to Include County?s Mass Care Shelter Plan
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Skagit County Department of Emergency Management (DEM) has revised its 2023 mid-cycle update to the multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. This plan is a joint effort between Skagit County, local and tribal governments, and community partners including Dike and Draining Districts and Skagit PUD.
The revision has updated Initiative #8 of Skagit County?s portion of the plan: Identify and designate emergency shelter structural and utility readiness for occupancy after a significant incident.
The following has been added to the Action Update:?
Supplementary Initiative 8a: Updating the County Mass Care Shelter Plan.
Supplementary Initiative 8b: Improving the Mass Care Shelter Plan to include cooling and warming centers by adding which shelters have backup power and air conditioning to sustain habitability during power brown and blackouts.? This action should help to mitigate some impacts of climate change on the populations of underserved communities during extreme climate events and poor air quality issues due to the Wildland Fire occurrences.? PRIORITY EXAMPLE: ?The Concrete Community Center, a Skagit County Facility, currently used as an emergency shelter lacks the auxiliary power supply and the indoor climate control requirements to address climate change mentioned in the mitigation plan.??See Shelter Plan for identified other shelters. ???
Supplementary Initiative 8c: ?Form a Shelter Plan Committee with the help of the Red Cross, to update the shelter location plan and to codify a solid shelter setup template, training, and staffing necessities.??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Skagit County is dedicated to involving the public directly in the review and updates of the Hazard Mitigation Plan. The public will continue to be updated on progress made through the County?s website and annual progress reports. Comments regarding the plan may be submitted to DEM by emailing comments to: [email protected].
To view the 2023 Mid-cycle update, go to: https://www.skagitcounty.net/EmergencyManagement/Documents/NHMP%20Update%202023_revised.pdf
For more information about DEM, visit: https://www.skagitcounty.net/Departments/emergencymanagement/main.htm or call (360) 416-1850.
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