HAZARD MITIGATION AND EMERGENCY OPERATION PLANNING

There are two main projects that fall under hazards and emergency planning: Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans and Emergency Operation Plans. For both, SNHPC works closely with the NH Bureau of Emergency Management to ensure consistency across the State and with State plans. While the two are distinctly separate documents, they both are interrelated, and prepare communities in the event of an emergency or disaster while working to potentially reduce damages before they occur.

Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans
SNHPC has been working with each of its member communities to develop Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans for each. A Hazard Mitigation Plan is designed to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from a range of hazards including wildfires, earthquakes, hurricanes, winter storms, and flooding. The plan identifies the community's susceptibility and vulnerability to each hazard, essential facilities at risk, and proposes new strategies to potentially mitigate or reduce future damages. These plans were financed in part by FEMA through a grant to the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management.

SNHPC has completed Hazard Mitigation Plans for the following communities:
Auburn– Bedford – Chester - Deerfield - Derry – Goffstown – Hooksett – Londonderry – Manchester –New Boston – Weare

SNHPC is not currently working on any Hazard Mitigation Plans.

The Towns of Raymond and Candia developed Hazard Mitigation Plans through other consultants.

Emergency Operation Plans
Emergency Operation Plans (EOPs) are developed to comply with the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as developed by the Department of Homeland Security. All municipalities in New Hampshire, in addition to the State itself, are required to have in effect a NIMS compliant EOP. EOPs identify local municipal departmental responsibilities in the event of an emergency, highlight community resources and shelters, establish chain of command, and response plans. Using guidelines developed by the New Hampshire Bureau of Emergency Management, the SNHPC has offered to develop EOPs for member communities. The SNHPC has recently completed the Manchester EOP, which was adopted by the Board of Mayor and Aldermen on May 1, 2007, and for the Town of Weare, adopted by the Board of Selectmen on July 16, 2007. The SNHPC is currently working on the EOP for the Town of Goffstown.

SNHPC has completed Emergency Operation Plans for the following communities:
Manchester
Weare