Northern Virginia Hazard Mitigation Plan 2022
The survey period has ended.
Your Feedback Is Requested
The Northern Virginia Emergency Response System is looking for public feedback on the Northern Virginia 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan (NOVA HMP) update. The NOVA HMP requires updating every five years and aims to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards, such as droughts, floods, winter weather, high winds, and other major disasters.
The public comment period will be open Sept. 8 through Oct. 8.
What Is A Hazard Mitigation Plan?
Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. A hazard mitigation plan identifies the hazards a community or region faces, assesses their vulnerability to the hazards and identifies specific actions that can be taken to reduce the risk from the hazards.
The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires communities to update their plan every five years to maintain eligibility for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. Hazard mitigation efforts could include projects such as flood channel clearing, road and bridge design changes, property buy-outs, building code changes, or public alert systems.
The 2022 NOVA HMP covers the Counties of Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun, and Prince William; the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, Manassas, and Manassas Park; and the Towns of Clifton, Dumfries, Haymarket, Herndon, Leesburg, Lovettsville, Middleburg, Occoquan, Purcellville, Quantico, Round Hill, and Vienna. The plan update also incorporates the concerns and needs of other stakeholder participants.
How To Share Your Comments
The draft plans (NOVA and City of Fairfax) are available on this page and on the NVERS website. Please send comments or questions on the draft plan no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 8 to NOVA2022PublicComment@iem.com. Please note which document your comments pertain to upon submission.
Next Steps
After the comment period closes Oct. 8, results will be compiled and included in the updated plan that will be submitted for review and approval by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency before being presented to counties, cities, and towns for final adoption.