CASS LAKE 鈥� The Leech Lake Nation is inviting residents, community leaders, business owners, and local organizations to share how severe weather events impact their lives and properties, as part of an effort to update the tribe鈥檚 Hazard Mitigation Plan.
An HMP is a strategy designed to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from natural disasters, such as severe weather events, wildfires and floods.
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The plan, which is being revised by the Leech Lake Reservation Office of Emergency Management in partnership with U-Spatial at the University of Minnesota Duluth, assesses natural hazards like tornadoes, floods and wildfires. It also outlines strategies to minimize future damage, a release said.
"Hazard mitigation planning is a central part of our emergency management program,鈥� Duane Oothoudt, emergency management director, said in the release. 鈥淯nderstanding the kinds of hazards that can cause serious impact to our residents, natural and cultural resources, and economy, and identifying how to take action to reduce future impacts makes us more resilient.
"Hazard mitigation helps us to break the cycle of damage and repair caused by things like flooding, ice storms, and severe wind events that can damage property, stress economies and threaten life safety within the reservation.鈥�
Examples of mitigation strategies include stormwater management improvements, removing buildings from flood-prone areas and constructing tornado-safe rooms. Public input will be incorporated into the updated plan, which will be submitted to the Minnesota Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and FEMA.
Feedback can be submitted by phone, email or in person. Additional opportunities for public involvement will be available throughout the process, and a draft of the plan will be made available for public review.
Contact Duane Oothoudt at (218) 335-8277, ext. 6312 or duane.oothoudt@llpolice.org.
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