Atchison County Hazard Mitigation Plan kickoff meeting March 7

The Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments (NWMORCOG) is hosting the first gathering in a series of meetings focusing on the five-year update for Atchison County’s Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The kickoff meeting will be held Thursday, March 7, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at the Velma Houts Building, 201 E. Hwy. U.S. 136 in Rock Port, Missouri. All interested citizens and public officials of Atchison County are invited.

Atchison County is susceptible to many types of natural hazards. Tornadoes, winter storms, and flooding have shaped the landscape, history, and economy of the county. Hazard mitigation planning is the process of developing sustained actions to reduce or eliminate the long-term risks associated with these potential disasters. The plan, funded by FEMA and the communities of Atchison County, will utilize a committee of first responders, elected officials, and public volunteers to gather community and county-specific information.

The hazard mitigation plan, currently under revision by the county and NWMORCOG, is a requirement to access federal mitigation funds in the event of a natural disaster. The committee will discuss existing hazards, community profiles, and the general plan update process.

An RSVP is requested for anyone planning to attend. Please contact Kirk Kopper (solid@nwmorcog.org) or Steve Houts (steve@nwmorcog.org) at the Northwest Missouri Regional Council of Governments with questions and RSVPs.