Hazard Mitigation Plan

A required 5-year update is underway.  More information will be posted when available...

2022 Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Pennsylvania counties are required to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every 5 years.  Pike County’s most recent plan update was Approved Pending Adoption by FEMA on September 19, 2022 and was officially adopted by the County Commissioners on September 21, 2022. 

The plan was supported via a FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation grant and matching funding from the Pike County Board of Commissioners.  County staff also provided in-kind match toward this project.  The plan was created with the assistance of TetraTech, Inc.

Improvements from the previous plan include the identification of 5 new hazards that currently impact, or have the potential to impact life or property in Pike County.  Additional hazards added to this plan update include Extreme Temperature, Invasive Species, Landslide, Lightning, and Radon.  The plan also identifies the impacts of climate change and the frequency/severity of hazards that impact the region.

Hazard Mitigation is defined as "any cost-effective action taken to eliminate or reduce the long-term risk to life and property from natural, man- made and/or technological hazards." The phrase "cost effective" added to the definition stresses the importance of finding effective mitigation alternatives which over the long-term can also reduce the economic impacts to our communities' tax base.

The Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan has been prepared in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requirement established under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2002.  Pennsylvania created their plan to follow these regulations in 2004.  Pike County followed with their first plan in 2006 as it needed to follow the goals and objectives and be consistent with the State plan.

The Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan assembles important inventory and data on potential hazards to our communities and prioritizes these hazards in frequency and severity.  It analyzes and reviews alternative mitigation options based on the resource capabilities of our County and communities.  The plan then selects the most appropriate course for future mitigation of the hazards facing our County residents.  The plan will enable the County and its municipalities to effectively respond to hazards as they occur and reduce the potential risks of these hazards to the health, safety and welfare of our residents.  Additionally, the Plan will allow for Pike County communities' eligibility for a full range of assistance following hazard events.

Pike County Hazard Mitigation Plan
 
Cover to Chapter 3

• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• County Profile
• Planning Process

Chapter 4

• 4.1 Risk Assessment
• 4.2 Hazard Identification 
• 4.3 Hazard Profiles
  • 4.3.1 Disease Outbreak
  • 4.3.2 Drought
  • 4.3.3 Drowning
  • 4.3.4 Earthquake
  • 4.3.5 Environmental Hazard
  • 4.3.6 Extreme Temperature
  • 4.3.7 Flood
  • 4.3.8 Hurricane, Tropical Storm, and Nor’easter
  • 4.3.9 Invasive and Nuisance Species
  • 4.3.10 Geological Hazards
  • 4.3.11 Nuclear Incidents
  • 4.3.12 Radon Exposure
  • 4.3.13 Terrorism
  • 4.3.14 Wind Events
  • 4.3.15 Winter Storm
  • 4.3.16 Transportation Accidents
  • 4.3.17 Structural Fires and Explosions
  • 4.3.18 Utility Interruptions
  • 4.3.19 Wildfire 
•  4.4 Methodology

Chapter 5 to Chapter 8

• 5 Capability Assessment
• 6 Mitigation Strategy
• 7 Plan Maintenance
• 8 Plan Adoption

Appendix A-D

• A- Bibliography
• B- Local Plan Review Tool
• C- Meeting Documentation
• D- Local Municipality Flood Vulnerability Maps

*Appendix E can be seen upon request

Appendix F-H

• F- Public and Stakeholder Outreach
• G- Municipal Action Worksheets
• H- Municipal Adoptions