The city of Leander is inviting residents to provide input Aug. 19 about what types of disasters they believe are most likely to affect the area in the future.

The 7 p.m. meeting at Pat Bryson Municipal Hall, 201 N. Brush Drive, will help Leander city staff develop a new hazard mitigation plan, which is the early phases of development, according to a statement from the city.

Bill Gardner, Leander fire chief and emergency management coordinator, and additional staff will be available to speak with residents about the logistics of planning for, responding to and recovering from disasters and major catastrophic events in Leander. There have been regional plans in place for years, Gardner said, but Leander is the first city in Williamson County to develop its own mitigation plan.

"We wanted to hear from the community about what do they feel is the the highest risk potential, and get their feedback," Gardner said. "The hazard mitigation plans allows us to identify potential hazards and the things we can do to decrease their impact or prevent them."

Following the September 2011 wildfires in Leander, Gardner said he worked with the planning department to update fence design standards. Some of the homes affected were connected by wooden fences that allowed the fire to spread more rapidly, he said. Solutions like stone fence barriers can decrease risk.

The mitigation plan will be submitted to City Council and FEMA for approval. Once the plan is approved by FEMA, Gardner said the city will be eligible to request federal dollars to fund improvements outlined in the mitigation plan.

Those unable to attend the meeting can email their comments to Gardner directly at [email protected].

For more information, visit www.leandertx.gov/fire

Updated 4:49 p.m. CST Aug. 15, 2013