SUPERIOR — Douglas County and local municipal officials and residents have been meeting since March 2021 to discuss and identify more than a dozen natural hazards that could occur within the county.
It may come as no surprise that some of these hazards are more common, recurring issues that affect thousands of residents and visitors across Douglas County, said Dave Sletten, Douglas County emergency management director.
Flooding and wildfires have impacted the county in major ways since the hazard plan was last updated in 2015, Sletten said.
Floods in July 2016 and June 2018 were of a magnitude that allowed for funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help with the cost to repair damaged culverts and washouts.
The hazardous events typically begin in the spring and run through the summer, Sletten said.
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Over the last year, the hazardous mitigation planning committee has focused on identifying the risks, on developing strategies to address the hazards, and on putting them into a plan.
The draft Douglas County Hazard Mitigation plan is now available for public review and feedback at douglascountywi.org on the main news page tab.
Questions and comments can be directed to Eric Howell, Northwest Regional Planning Commission, at 715-635-2197, ext. 238, or ehowell@nwrpc.com . Comments will be accepted through May 31.
