MONCKS CORNER, S.C.– (Wednesday, March 4, 2020) — Berkeley County is in the process of updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan, with assistance from the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments (BCDCOG), and is seeking public feedback on the document. A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on March 5, 2020 at Daniel Island Library, which is located at 2301 Daniel Island Drive in Daniel Island.
There’s also an online survey available for anyone unable to attend the meeting. It can be accessed here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BerkeleyCountyHMP.
The Berkeley County Hazard Mitigation Plan lays out processes and procedures for the County to respond to natural and man-made hazards that have the potential to endanger the health and safety of citizens, jeopardize economic vitality, and harm the quality of the environment. Once implemented, the updated plan will enhance the safety of all Berkeley County residents, neighborhoods, businesses and other institutions from possible future hazards.
Berkeley County Emergency Management Department (BCEMD) contracted with BCDCOG to facilitate the comprehensive planning process for the document’s update. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires an update every five years. The County last updated its Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2015. Together, BCDCOG and the BCEMD created a committee to assist in the planning process and met individually with stakeholders, who included local government planners, emergency managers, administrators, utilities, and others. Along with additional community representatives, the committee worked to identify projects and programs to reduce hazard vulnerabilities and increase recovery resources.
The updated plan must be approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and adopted by local governments. The plan will also adhere to the planning process developed for local governments and the South Carolina’s Emergency Management Division, which will incorporate the County’s updated plan into its statewide hazard mitigation plan.
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– Prepared by the Berkeley County Public Information Office –
