The Capitol Region is active in planning for natural hazards mitigation in order to reduce our vulnerabilities to natural disasters and enable our communities to minimize losses and recover more effectively when disasters do occur.
CRCOG has prepared a Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan covering all 38 member municipalities. The purpose of this plan is to identify natural hazards likely to affect the Capitol Region and its nearly one million residents, assess vulnerabilities to these hazards, and set forth mitigation strategies that will reduce the loss of life and property, economic disruptions, and the cost of post‐disaster recovery for the region’s communities. The plan considers the following natural hazards that affect the region: dam failure, drought, earthquakes, flooding, forest and wildland fires, hurricanes and tropical storms, tornadoes and high winds, and severe winter storms.
The plan has been adopted by all member cities and towns and received FEMA’s approval on November 7, 2019. The plan is in effect until November 6, 2024. With FEMA’s approval, our towns and cities are eligible to apply to the CT Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security (DEMHS) for mitigation grants administered by FEMA.
2019 – 2024 Plan Update
The Process
The Capitol Region Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was first adopted in 2008 and was updated in 2014 and 2019. The documents below describe the plan update process for the 2019-2024 Plan.
Meetings were held in each community with municipal staff and other local stakeholders. Three regional workshops were also held:
January 23, 2018 – Vulnerabilities and Risks
March 27, 2018 – Mitigation Strategies
September 12, 2018 – Mitigation Strategies & Fact Sheets
Public input was also used to inform the plan update. Six public workshops were held throughout the region in May 2018 and an online survey gathered public opinions about the impact of natural disasters on local communities. Additionally, two public meetings on the draft plan were held in November, 2018.
This poster highlights key features of the plan update process.
Additional Resources
You can find out more about natural hazards mitigation planning at:
The State of Connecticut’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs
NFIP Community Rating System Brochure
You can view local flood insurance maps at FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center.
To learn more about personal and business preparations for disasters and emergencies go to Get Ready Capitol Region.
Contact Maureen Goulet or call 860-724-4211 with any questions on the plan and update process.
You can access the Municipal Annexes of each of the 38 communities participating in the 2019-2024 Capitol Region Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan Update below: