Public feedback sought in Hazard Mitigation Plan update

Published on July 16, 2025

Weld County and its municipalities are taking an active approach in lessening the negative impact of natural disasters by updating the county’s multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. As part of the update, officials are eager to hear from residents about how prepared they feel for severe weather emergencies and how prepared they feel their communities are to respond should one occur. The county is asking the public to provide feedback through its Hazard Mitigation Survey, open through Sept. 17, 2025.

Updated every five years, the Hazard Mitigation Plan is a planning tool designed to help Weld County’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and municipalities identify hazards throughout the county. Thorough identification can help municipalities and OEM determine how to best address areas of concern, either through extra planning or investments in infrastructure to make a community more resilient against severe weather and other emergencies, even ones that are rare or may not be expected.

“Looking at past years, we know that facing severe weather and a natural disaster is a possibility,” said Roy Rudisill, Weld County OEM Director. “Tornadoes,  hail, floods, strong winds — these are the things we expect. A hazard mitigation plan can bring to light those risks that are not as top of mind — like earthquakes, for example. That knowledge can help municipalities look at their plans more broadly and say, ‘Have we identified projects that will reduce damage from floods or severe weather?’

“This plan is established to benefit our communities and ultimately our residents impacted by emergencies,” he said. “Answering a few questions on a survey is critical to that effort, and we hope everyone fills it out.”

Weld County is home to 32 municipalities, each with a diverse set of characteristics and capabilities. Community feedback is essential for community leaders to understand residents’ concerns as well as what projects have community support.

Completion of the Hazard Mitigation Plan update also keeps the county and municipalities eligible to receive state and federal disaster relief, if necessary. It can also lessen the financial strain on a community if it’s less impacted due to adequate preparation.

Learn more about the Hazard Mitigation Plan.