GOV. MALLOY REMINDS RESIDENTS THAT ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON BEGINS TODAY
Residents Advised to be Prepared for Any Severe Weather
Continue reading Gov. Malloy: Atlantic Hurricane Season Begins Today
Tag Archives: Emergency Management
Staff Present on Hazard Resiliency
At the WestCOG board meeting on September 17th, staff members, Rob Sachnin and Mike Towle presented on Hazard Resiliency in the Region. Continue reading Staff Present on Hazard Resiliency
Emergency Planning
Emergency Planning
Special & Functional Needs Sheltering Planning Guide, 2016
The Housatonic Valley Region -Public Health Emergency Preparedness (HVR – PHEP) has completed its Special and Functioning Needs Sheltering Planning Guide. The Guide provides a framework for any municipality to improve sheltering for individuals requiring additional assistance. The next step for the HVR-PHEP is to create training materials for those who work in emergency sheltering.
Housatonic Valley Region Mutual Aid Agreement for Emergency Response and Recovery Activities, 2010
This landmark regional agreement endorsed by area leaders on June 17, 2010 was prepared at the request of municipalities to facilitate emergency responses.
I-84 and Route 7 Expressway Emergency Diversion Plan, 2011
This study has been completed in cooperation with CT DEMHS, CT DOT, COGCNV and local emergency management officials. It will serve as a guide during expressway traffic emergencies
Enhancing Public Health Emergency Mutual Aid in the Housatonic Valley Region, 2006
In 2003, HVCEO received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, administered through the CT Office of Emergency Management, for regional coordination of local emergency management planning activities. As part of this grant, a needs assessment was conducted which identified the updating and formalizing of Mutual Aid Agreements among the jurisdictions in the Housatonic Valley Region as a priority.
Hazard Mitigation
Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG), along with its member municipalities, is developing its first regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) for all 18 communities.
A Hazard Mitigation Plan helps a community understand risks and take steps to reduce natural hazard impacts.
The plan is expected to be completed by December 2020. Contact Nicole Sullivan, Planner at WestCOG for details.
Get Involved in the HMP
A well made HMP, which outlines natural hazard mitigation solutions, is informed by those most directly impacted; the public. Opportunities for public involvement are provided below:
Take the HMP Survey
Attend a HMP Public Meeting
You are encouraged to attend the meeting designated for your community, but you are welcome at any meeting that fits your schedule. Meetings will run from 6:00 to 7:00 pm on Zoom. No download is needed. Please access the meeting through this link: sites.google.com/view/westcogHMP
July 9 🔹 Bridgewater, New Fairfield, New Milford, Sherman
July 14 🔹 Bethel, Brookfield, Newtown
July 23 🔹 Danbury
July 28 🔹 Redding, Ridgefield, Weston, Wilton
August 6 🔹 Greenwich
August 11 🔹 Stamford
August 20 🔹 Darien, New Canaan, Westport
August 25 🔹 Norwalk
Active HMPs
WestCOG’s former agencies (SWRPA and HVCEO) received funding to complete Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMP) for all 18 communities in the WestCOG region. The HMPs are a bridge to potential FEMA Mitigation funds and grant opportunities.
The plan is designed to provide residents, businesses, and emergency responders with information on natural hazards including: floods, coastal storms and nor’easters, hurricanes, blizzards/severe winter storms/ice storms, drought, sea level rise, earthquakes, and dam failure. Additionally, the HMPs have an emphasis on providing mitigation goals, objectives and strategies for each municipality in the region.
Electronic copies of these plans can be found below.
Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2016-2020 (South)
Greenwich, Stamford, Darien, Norwalk, Westport, New Canaan, Wilton, Weston are covered in this Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Municipal Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans (Northern Region)
Bethel, Brookfield, Bridgewater, Danbury, New Milford, Newtown, New Fairfield, Redding, Ridgefield, and Sherman are covered by individual HMPs drafted in cooperation with Milone and MacBroom.
Emergency Management
Emergency Management
Hazard Mitigation Plans
WestCOG’s former agencies (SWRPA and HVCEO) received funding to complete Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMP) for all 18 communities in the WestCOG region. The HMPs are a bridge to potential FEMA Mitigation funds and grant opportunities. The Hazard Mitigation Plan can be found here.
Emergency Management Planning
Through regional partnership WestCOG works with the Department of Emergency and Homeland Security (DEMHS), member communities, and neighboring COGs to prepare and plan for regional emergency response and mitigation efforts. WestCOG falls within two DEMHS planning regions, Region 1 and Region 5 and attends Steering and Full Committee meetings and advocates for its member communities.
Emergency Service Function 1 (ESF1), Transportation
As part of supporting the DEMHS regions, WestCOG coordinates with transportation planners from NHCOG, NVCOG, MetroCOG to develop and strategize transportation planning issues related to emergency management functions across DEMHS Regions 1 & 5.
Completed Studies and Reports
- Special & Functional Needs Sheltering Planning Guide (2016)
- I-84 and Route 7 Expressway Emergency Diversion Plan (2011), Traffic Diversion Maps (2011)
- HV Mutual Aid Agreement for Emergency Response and Recovery Activities (2010)
- Enhancing Public Health Emergency Mutual Aid in the HV Region (2006)
- Salt Marsh Advancement Zone Assessments for WestCOG Coastal Communities (2014)