On Feb. 8, 2022, the Georgetown City Council approved an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was informed through public feedback.

The plan, which is updated every five years, aims to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from known hazards, such as droughts, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, and other major disasters. Hazard mitigation efforts include projects such as flood channel clearing, road and bridge design changes, property buy-outs, building code changes, and public alert systems.

Residents were able to provide input on the draft plan through May 30, 2021. The City hosted an online survey, Dec. 17, 2020-Jan. 17, 2021, asking residents and business owners to help identify, analyze, and prepare for potential hazards.

During that survey, residents and business owners were asked to share whether they had been affected by disaster events and what areas of the community they thought are particularly vulnerable to potential disasters. We received 349 responses to the survey. Of those who responded, 47 percent indicated they had been affected by a natural or manmade disaster in the past five years, the most common being hail.

The results from the second round of public feedback were compiled and included in the final draft plan, along with feedback from a City Council workshop on April 13, 2021. The bulk of the comments centered on improving communications with the public during emergencies and better preparing for and improving community awareness of various hazards, including drought, wildfire, flash flooding, and human-caused disasters like hazardous material spills.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency reviewed and approved the plan on Jan. 6. The Georgetown City Council unanimously adopted the plan Feb. 8, 2022.

You can view the full plan here.