Deadline Friday to comment on disaster planning

Hill County residents have one more day to comment on plans drafted to help the county and communities prevent damage and injuries in case of a disaster.

Friday is the deadline to comment on predisaster mitigation plans drafted by Tetra Tech Inc., which was hired for the three-county project that also included updating plans for Blaine and Phillips counties.

Comments can be made online at http://blaine-hill-phillips-pdm.com or turned in to Hill County Disaster and Emergency Services Coordinator Joe Parenteau at the Hill County Courthouse Annex at 302 4th Ave. in Havre.

Friday also is the deadline for comments on the Phillips County plan. Blaine County is on a faster track, and the comments deadline for that plan was last week.

The plans are designed to help the counties and communities within them take action to reduce damage caused by disasters.

"The effects from several natural and man-made hazards may directly impact the safety and wellbeing of residents of (the county), " the plans say. "Historically, (county) residents have dealt with floods, wildfire, harsh winter storms with extreme cold and blizzards, severe summer storms with damaging thunderstorms, and hazardous material incidents. While most hazards cannot be eliminated, the effects from them can be mitigated. "

The plans are divided into sections on the website, with the viewer able to download and view each section without having to download the entire plan at once.

Each section of the plan has an online form with which comments can be made.

Updating the plan every five years is a requirement of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Having a current plan in place also improves an entity's chances of receiving funding for projects to mitigate disasters, and also improves entity's ability to respond to disasters.