Bandera County's Office of Emergency Management is in the process of updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan, aimed at enhancing the county's preparedness for natural disasters and reducing vulnerabilities. This plan, a FEMA requirement for grant eligibility, is designed to protect lives and property by identifying risks, assessing capabilities, proposing actions, and formulating strategies to minimize disaster impacts.
The draft of the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan is now available for public review on the Bandera County website. Interested individuals can access the plan via the Bandera County Emergency Management page. Feedback is requested by Monday, September 23, 2024. Comments and corrections can be submitted to Judy Lefevers, Emergency Management Coordinator, via email at emc@banderacounty.org.
The plan covers one county, one city, three independent school districts, and two water districts. It updates the 2017 AACOG Hazard Mitigation Plan and includes Bandera County, Bandera FWSD #1, City of Bandera, Bandera ISD, Flying L PUD, Medina ISD, Medina WSC, and Utopia ISD. The plan was developed in cooperation with Langford Community Management Services and Rojas Planning.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan's mission is to protect the people, property, economy, and quality of life in Bandera County from hazards and disasters. It outlines cost-effective actions to reduce long-term risks and break the cycle of high-cost disaster response and recovery. The plan includes details on estimated costs, responsible departments, funding sources, and timelines for implementation.
Key goals of the plan are to align risk reduction with other objectives, build partnerships for risk reduction, communicate priorities for funding, and increase education and awareness about threats and vulnerabilities. The Core Planning Team has identified twelve natural hazards to address, with detailed risk assessments and mitigation actions outlined in the plan. Ongoing maintenance, monitoring, and public involvement are also included to ensure the plan remains effective and up-to-date.
