Kewaunee County draft hazard mitigation plan update available for review

KEWAUNEE – The State of Wisconsin is vulnerable to various disasters, and Kewaunee County is no different. Wisconsin has incurred disaster-related damages totaling $3 billion in the last three decades, but mitigation activities can reduce future losses. A recent study by the Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council shows that each average dollar spent on mitigation saves society in excess of six dollars. Since 1993, more than 400 disasters have occurred in the United States, affecting communities in all 50 states, costing the country over $500 million per week and killing over 24,000 people.

Mitigation actions reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. These preventative actions can be as simple as elevating a furnace in a basement which sometimes has water on the floor. Mitigation can also have a comprehensive approach, such as relocating buildings from the floodplain or strengthening critical facilities to prevent wind damage and provide stronger shelter.

In an effort to better prepare Kewaunee County to manage its vulnerability to disasters, Kewaunee County Emergency Management applied for, received and has completed a pre-disaster mitigation (PDM) update federal planning grant. This plan update will serve as a roadmap that outlines potential cost-effective hazard mitigation activities, some of which might be available for future grant funding. The updated plan outlines the risks and vulnerabilities that the county faces from natural disasters and highlights mitigation strategies that might reduce future losses. The completed draft hazard mitigation plan update is available during business hours (8 a.m. to 4 p.m.) at the Kewaunee County Clerk’s Office at 810 Lincoln Street, Kewaunee, for review and public comment until Monday, June 30.