Hazard Mitigation Plan approved

Submitted by admin on Thu, 01/10/2013 - 5:18pm
Humboldt County’s recently elected county supervisors for four-year terms were sworn in during the board’s first official meeting of the year Jan. 2. Humboldt County District Court Judge Kurt Stoebe (right) performs the ceremony. Supervisors from left to right are: Jerry Haverly, Goldfield, Rick Pedersen, Humboldt, Harlan Hansen, Rutland and John “Mort” Christianson, Bode. Humboldt Independent photo.
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Several years in the making, Humboldt County’s multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is closer to becoming finalized.
The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution adopting the plan at their meeting this past week.
The plan is something project planners with the Mid-Iowa Development Association (MIDAS) have been working on with communities and the county for the past two years.
The 500-page plan includes risk assessments of hazards, vulnerability assessments and lost estimates, mitigation strategies and priorities and action plans for the communities of Bode, Bradgate, Dakota City, Gilmore City, Hardy, Humboldt, Livermore, Renwick, Thor and the rural unincorporated areas of the county. Rutland, Pioneer and Ottosen opted out of developing specific city plans, so their information is included in the hazard mitigation plan for the rural unincorporated areas of the county.
The goal of the plan, according to Carissa Miller of MIDAS, who presented the draft information for the board’s review, is to prepare for and reduce the effects of hazards that may impact the communities in the county.
It can include events such as tornadoes, flash flooding, river flooding, severe winter storms, windstorms, hailstorms, extreme heat and drought, landslides, dam failures, sink holes, earthquakes and other natural or people-induced occurrences.
Each city in the county appointed several community members to a hazard mitigation committee. The committees have met several times (an average of five-seven meetings) during the past two years to develop a plan. For more news on Humboldt County government, subscribe to the Humboldt Independent online or print editions. The paper includes not only photos and stories, but is the only place where you can read all county courthouse news and legal notices.