Blair Planning
Hazard Mitigation Plan
2025 Update
Blair Planning is currently updating the hazard mitigation plan, known locally as BRAVE. We rely heavily on everyone in the county for critical information relative to hazards, capacity, community vulnerabilities, and our strengths. We have been conducting several outreach efforts, primarily in 2024, to gather this information. See below for opportunities for the general public to participate through workshops, surveys, and interviews.
Community Survey: Opportunity to Inform on Preselected Topic Areas
Please click this link for the online survey. You can also complete handwritten surveys by visiting the Blair Planning Office.
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Please complete the survey no later than end-of-day May 3rd.
Community Resilience Workshops: Opportunity for Direct Public Input and Discussion
In March, Blair Planning went throughout the county to gather public input on hazards, capacity, community vulnerabilities, and our strengths. Thank you to all of the dedicated community members who came out for the Community Resilience Workshops. The data we collected has been processed and has assisted in the creation of the community survey.
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Previous Workshop Dates
MARCH 7 - 6:30 PM - Northern Blair Senior Center, Tyrone
MARCH 13 - 6:30 PM - Southern Blair Senior Center, East Freedom
MARCH 14 - 1:30 PM - Margaret Avenue Training Center, Altoona
MARCH 21 - 6:30 PM - Williamsburg Community Center, Williamsburg
Municipal Discussions: Opportunity to Obtain the Local Government Perspective
Municipal discussions have been conducted in March and April of 2024.
Major Considerations of the Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazards:
What hazards do we face as a community? Some are obvious, such as flooding, storms, and chemical accidents. Some are more obscure such as radon, subsidence, and solar weather. All can have an impact on quality of life, provision of services, and the continuity of government. Hazards fall into three general categories. There are natural hazards, such as flooding, storms, landslides, and such. There are social hazards, which include civil unrest, bomb threats, and terrorism. Finally, there are technological hazards including cyber attacks, dam failures, and opioid addiction. Consider for a moment what hazards you may face in the next five to ten years where you live, work, and play.
The Built Environment:
Our built environment provides us with our living and work space, services, utilities, and other community amenities. It also is the most keenly felt when disrupted by a hazard event. Consider your neighborhood. What elements of the built environment provide shelter from a hazardous event - it may be different depending on the hazard - or might it be particularly vulnerable? Which elements are strengths for the community? What improvements are needed to eliminate or reduce vulnerabilities or bolster strengths?
The Social Environment:
The social environment is our interpersonal interactions, including religious congregations, civic groups, and neighborhood relationships. It also considers vulnerable populations such as the young, elderly, low-income, limited communications, or somehow disabled. How are these impacted by the hazards the community faces? What strengths and vulnerabilities exist? How do we strengthen them?
The Natural Environment:
Natural environments include much of the undeveloped areas throughout the county such as our game lands, watershed protection lands, rivers, and forest lands. Also included are some developed areas including parks, agricultural fields, reservoirs, and recreation areas. These often provide a buffer or shield from many hazards, but can also be particularly vulnerable. What natural assets are in your community? Do they help in hazard events or are they vulnerable? It is possible they are both a strength and are vulnerable.
Community Capacity:
Capacity is a community's ability to function and address the issues it faces in a timely, efficient manner. It often manifests in what procedures are in place, how many people are available to undertake the needed tasks, and whether or not sufficient funds are available. If any of these are lacking or missing, the community likely has a capacity. issue. Are there missing services in your community? Are they from lack of volunteers/employees or funds? Lack of interest? How might the lack be overcome?
Action Plan:
The action plan seeks the intersection of the three environments and the hazards that impact them, considers the community capacity to meet the needs and deliver services in the case of a hazard event, and identifies, steps, plans, or projects to undertake to strengthen the community so that the impact of the hazard is reduced or eliminated. As you have considered the hazards, environments, and capacity issues, what actions can be taken to strengthen your community, your household, your workplace, and yourself?
