BELCHERTOWN – Residents, businesses, and surrounding community members are invited to provide input on the Town of Belchertown Hazard Mitigation Plan at a public meeting on January 21, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. at the Belchertown Town Hall, 2 Jabish Street. This will be held during the Select Board meeting. Remote access is available at: https://www.gotomeet.me/Belchertown-Selectboard. Attendees will learn about what the Town is doing to prepare for natural hazards and the impacts of climate change, and have the opportunity to share ideas and concerns.
The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) is to assess Belchertown’s risks from natural hazards and climate change impacts, and provide an action plan to reduce the Town’s vulnerabilities. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is being completed by the Town with assistance from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission (PVPC) and is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Upon completion, the plan will be submitted to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and FEMA for review and approval. A FEMA-approved HMP makes the community eligible for federal and state mitigation grant funding.
The meeting will include a discussion of natural hazards and climate impacts in Belchertown, and the hazard mitigation planning process. Municipal officials and PVPC staff will be available to answer questions and respond to input about this project. The meeting provides an opportunity for community members to share feedback that will be incorporated into the plan. All members of the public, representatives from surrounding communities, and other interested parties are invited to attend the event.
For more information about this event, please contact PVPC’s Mimi Kaplan at mkaplan@pvpc.org or (413) 781-6045.