Draft of Hazard Mitigation Plan complete, public asked to review

Published on December 17, 2025

A final call for public feedback marks an important step in Weld County Government completing an update of its Hazard Mitigation Plan. The draft of the plan is now live, and the public is asked to review it and provide feedback via a quick online survey.  Responses will be accepted through Dec. 29.

“Throughout this process we have consistently sought municipal and public feedback, and we are continuing that effort with a review of our drafted plan,” said Roy Rudisill, Director of the Weld County Office of Emergency Management. “This plan takes into account the feedback gathered over the last eight months to make our municipalities and the county more resilient to hazards, and we want to give our residents one last opportunity to provide input.”

At over 4,000 square miles, Weld County is home to 32 municipalities, each with distinct urban and rural characteristics. The Hazard Mitigation Plan, updated every five years, outlines strengths, weaknesses, and areas of concern for municipalities, which are commonly severe weather events, such as tornadoes and floods, but can extend to other hazards, such as the impact of a cybersecurity attack.

The community profiles, or annexes, included in the plan reflect months of collaborative work between OEM, municipalities, and the public to identify projects and priorities meant to increase situational awareness and lessen the impact of future hazards. Additionally, the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan keeps the county and municipalities eligible for federal disaster relief, if necessary.

This last opportunity for public feedback follows a public survey in July and a public open house in September. Rudisill believes this final review offers the public a chance to see the results of that feedback and offer any final suggestions.

“Effective emergency planning requires thinking of today’s needs and what may be needed in the future, as well. It also requires a collaborative approach, which has been utilized in this update,” Rudisill said. “This review provides an opportunity to see the result of our work, and the survey ensures we’ve captured the thoughts of our residents.”

After the survey period closes, the plan will go to the Weld County Board of Commissioners for final approval.