Blair County officials urge quick completion of overdue hazard mitigation plan as grants hang in the balance

Chris Frederickson of Blair County Emergency Management told the planning commission that the countywide hazard mitigation plan expired on Feb. 10, 2025, and that repeated delays in updating it threaten grant funding for municipal projects. "This is extremely important. It is negatively affecting every community within Blair County, and we currently have several organizations that are in jeopardy of losing funding if this plan is not in place as soon as possible," Frederickson said.

Planning staff said the plan is now with the consultant Stewart Group for a final compliance review before submission to state and federal reviewers. Planning staff said the updated document addresses format and hazard-definition concerns raised by reviewers and will be forwarded to PEMA and FEMA for their approval. Once the state and federal review is complete, staff said the plan will be returned to the county and adoption requires at least one municipality to adopt the plan for it to be considered final; individual municipalities must then adopt it to participate in its benefits.

County Commissioner liaison (name not given at the meeting) told the commission that commissioners have been pressing for answers and emphasized the stakes: "The plan should have been done, I believe, a year ago," the liaison said, adding that commissioners want the plan to move forward at pace to avoid losing grant awards.

Commission members probed causes of the delay. Planning staff cited 2024 staff turnover and recent health issues that removed key personnel from day-to-day work; staff said those staffing disruptions have been addressed and that they expect Stewart Group to finish final edits within weeks. One commissioner requested an executive session to discuss personnel matters related to the delay.

Next steps: Stewart Group will complete compliance proofing, staff will submit the plan to PEMA and FEMA, and the commission plans to bring the plan back for acknowledgement and to advise municipalities on local adoption. The commission also announced Mackenzie will serve as interim assistant director to improve communications and reduce the risk that items fall through the cracks.