Cook County Invites Residents to Review 2024 Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft

Plan helps communities prepare for natural disasters and makes County eligible for FEMA hazard mitigation grant fund

Cook County’s Department of Emergency Management and Regional Security (EMRS) invites the public to review the 2024 Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is undergoing a mandatory five-year update. 

Cook County is committed to improving its emergency preparedness and mitigation capabilities, and community involvement in the process is crucial to its success. Cook County experienced two major Presidential disaster declarations in 2023 due to natural hazards, underscoring the need for this important work. There are two ways for the public to participate in this plan update. 

Cook County is currently seeking stakeholder and public comment on the 2024 Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan draft, which can be accessed by clicking the link below.  

LINK TO DRAFT PLAN: PUBLIC VERSION CookCounty.2024.MJ-HMP.Vol1 (DRAFT).pdf 

Comments can be submitted by using the feedback form below. 

LINK TO FORM: https://integratedsolutions.wufoo.com/forms/comment-form-cook-county-hazard-mitigation-plan/ 

The 2024 Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is designed to help communities reduce the impact of natural hazards. The public meetings will assist the County in identifying and prioritizing the services, disaster-related projects and capabilities the community may need during an emergency. 

The federal government requires local and state governments to have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan as established by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 to qualify for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) funding. These programs are critical sources of federal funding, especially for a community that wants to proactively initiate mitigation projects or for a community that needs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding following a presidential disaster declaration. 

For more information about the Cook County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, visit: https://www.cookcountyemergencymanagement.org/reducing-risk-response/2024-hazard-mitigation-plan-update