Albany County is currently working on updating a plan that helps identify hazards within the county, and residents are encouraged to participate in the process. This is being done along with the incorporated jurisdictions of Laramie and Rock River.

The hazard mitigation plan is a federal requirement which not only helps to identify hazards, but also explores means to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities to those hazards. According to Albany County Emergency Management Coordinator Aimee Binning, the mitigation plan helps in identifying specific projects needed in our communities.

“When we have mitigation grants and mitigation funding come around, we can apply for those grants with those projects in place,” adds Binning.

She notes that the last mitigation plan was used to prevent flooding after the 2010 and 2011 flood seasons. Projects included improving draining and piping systems as well as upgrading the siren system used to warn people in an emergency.

All residents are invited to participate in the planning process by taking a brief survey. The survey is anonymous and should not take more than ten minutes to complete. It is primarily multiple choice questions and has a portion where you rank your priorities when it comes to hazard planning. It also includes a couple areas where you can provide full answers and comments if desired.

Binning says it is important for people to take the survey because it provides a wide range of hazards to identify and helps when finding funding for them.

Links to take the survey online are available on the City of Laramie website and the Albany County website.

The survey will be available online until September 19. If you cannot take the survey online, a paper survey can be requested by emailing ema@co.albany.wy.us or by calling the Albany County Emergency Management Office at 307-721-1815.

You can also contact them at that phone number or email address if you have any addition questions about the hazard mitigation plan or the survey.

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