In 2014, Wake County and the municipalities within the County joined together to develop the first Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. Previously, each jurisdiction had developed its own, individual Hazard Mitigation Plan. Federal law requires that jurisdictions update their hazard mitigation plans every five years to remain eligible for certain federal grants.
The 2020 – 2025 update to the Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was developed in a joint and cooperative manner by members of a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) which included representatives of county and municipal departments, federal and state agencies, citizens, and other stakeholders. The 2020-2025 update was approved by Town Council on December 17, 2019 and will expire in January 2026.
The purpose of the plan is to better protect the people and property within Wake County from the effects of natural and human-caused hazards by identifying, assessing, and mitigating hazard risks. The 2020 – 2025 Wake County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan:
- Documents progress on existing hazard mitigation planning efforts
- Updates the previous plan to reflect current conditions in the county including relevant hazards and vulnerabilities
- Increases public education and awareness about the plan and planning process
- Maintains grant eligibility for participating jurisdictions
- Maintains compliance with state and federal requirements for local hazard mitigation plans
- Identifies and outlines strategies the county and participating jurisdictions will use to decrease vulnerability and increase resiliency