White County Public Safety Director David Murphy presents the County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan at a public hearing

(Cleveland)- Two public hearings were held Tuesday on the updating of White County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan.  Public Safety Director David Murphy said the county updates this plan every five years to establish a vision and guidance for reducing hazard risks along with proposing specific actions to eliminate or reduce certain vulnerabilities. 

Their number one goal is to protect life and property.

Murphy in his public presentation said they have at least three primary goals (1) enhance the mitigation strategy, (2) improve plan maintenance procedures and, (3) conduct widespread public outreach and stakeholder involvement.  As part of the mitigation strategies Murphy said they want to purchase and install weather monitoring stations, purchase and install NOAA Weather Radios in schools, daycares, recreation facilities, nursing homes, and public buildings.

He also said they want to purchase generators for critical facilities in the county.  

After they complete the plan Murphy said, it must be review by state and federal officials before the county and the cities of Helen and Cleveland can adopt it.