The 2021 Schenectady County Hazard Mitigation Plan update process is currently underway and is inclusive of the County and all eight municipalities. The Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) identifies and evaluates risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural hazards and resulting disasters, and leads to the development of long-term strategies (policies and actions) for risk reduction, making your community more resilient.

By participating in this process communities ensure eligibility for federal mitigation funding, a key asset in the implementation of mitigation actions that reduce risk and impacts of hazards. Mitigation plans are key to breaking the cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction.

This survey seeks to identify and collect information about at-risk / vulnerable community members across Schenectady County and any on-going activities that provide services and resources to these individuals and groups before, during or after natural hazard events and/or disasters.

Locating and learning more about these community members, and the organizations that interface and work with them, will inform the risks and vulnerabilities, as well as mitigation strategies (goals, objectives and actions) sections of the 2021 Schenectady County Hazard Mitigation Plan update.

The planning process is currently engaged with Jurisdictional Teams from each municipality composed of a wide range of government/municipal officials and staff. It is critical that the public and non-governmental stakeholders contribute views, ideas and feedback that will be incorporated in the plan. These contributions will improve the overall quality and accuracy of the plan.

For this plan update, Schenectady County is participating in a pilot program facilitated by NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (NYSDHES). The pilot is currently engaging five counties across the state as they update their Hazard Mitigation Plans to test a new web-based mitigation planning platform and planning process currently under development by NYSDHSES. This means the 2021 Schenectady County Hazard Mitigation Plan update will be a web-based plan that is more interactive, dynamic and accessible and easier and more cost effective for the County and it's municipalities to update.

Thank you for your time and participation!