Georgetown approves updated hazard mitigation plan

The Georgetown City Council approved an updated hazard mitigation plan at its Feb. 8. workshop.

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 disasters, according to a release.

Mitigation efforts include projects such as flood channel clearing, road and bridge design changes, property buy-outs, building code changes and public alert systems.

"A priority for City Council is to better prepare and respond to disasters,” Mayor Josh Schroeder said in a release. “This plan is a critical tool to ensure we appropriately inventory the natural hazards facing Georgetown and prioritize efforts to mitigate those threats.”

Residents were able to provide input on the draft plan through May 2021. The city hosted an online survey in December 2020-January 2021, asking residents to help identify and prepare for potential hazards.

The city received 349 responses to the survey. Of those who responded, 47% indicated they had been affected by a natural or humanmade disaster in the past five years, the most common being hail.

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

Residents can read the plan at www.government.georgetown.org.