ELLICOTT CITY, MD – This March, Howard County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) will hold two public meetings to gather public input and discuss the County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and Flood Mitigation Plan. The first meeting will take place in-person on Wednesday, March 22nd from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the Frances Hackley Multipurpose Room at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia. The second meeting will take place virtually on Wednesday, March 29th from noon to 1:00 p.m. To register to participate in March 29th’s virtual meeting, click HERE.
The County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan and Flood Mitigation Plan define goals and actions that can be taken to mitigate impacts from a variety of hazards, including flooding, within the county. The County is required to update these plans every five years.
A brief presentation will be presented at the start of each meeting by staff members from OEM and the County’s Department of Public Works (DPW), who will remain on hand to answer any questions and gather public comments. Exhibit boards and activities will also be available at the in-person meeting on the 22nd. Meeting summaries will be posted on OEM’s “2024-2029 Howard County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update” website following the meetings.
Those unable to attend either meeting who would like to view the information and/or have questions regarding the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan, should contact Ms. Lauren Chilton with OEM at 410-313-6030 or email [email protected]. For information and/or questions regarding the Flood Mitigation Plan, please contact Mr. Mark S. Richmond with DPW’s Stormwater Management Division at 410-313-6413 or email [email protected].
An interpreter for people who are deaf or hard of hearing will be available if requested seven working days prior to the meeting. Please call DPW at 410-313-3440 (voice) or use Relay at 7-1-1, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
For questions or more information about these meetings, contact Ms. Lauren Chilton with OEM at 410-313-6030 or email [email protected].