With help from the public, Suffolk County has put together an updated Hazard Mitigation Plan and will present it at two online public review sessions this week, offering residents a chance to weigh in on how the county prepares for storms, flooding and other threats.
County officials say the plan is required to qualify for FEMA funding — a key source for large-scale resilience and infrastructure projects.
Riverhead,Southoldand other municipalities throughout the county previously asked residents to weigh in through a survey, helping shape the updated plan by identifying local risks and vulnerabilities.
The document outlines the county’s most pressing hazards — from coastal erosion to extreme weather — and maps out strategies to limit damage and speed recovery when those events hit, including steps that could address recurring flooding issues on the North Fork.
The updated 2026 Hazard Mitigation Plan builds on the county’s 2020 plan, which can be viewed athttps://fres.suffolkcountyny.gov/respond/FEMAPlan.html.
“Hazard mitigation can take on many forms: capital projects, policies, education, and environmental protection,” theHazard Mitigation Plan websitestates. “It is considered the first phase of the four phases of Emergency Management: Mitigation & Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery.”
Hazards identified in the plan includecoastal erosion,cybersecurity threats, disease outbreaks, drought, earthquakes, extreme temperatures, groundwater contamination, hurricanes, invasive species, Nor’easters, severe storms,severe winter stormsand wildfires.
Allison Petker, acting director of emergency preparedness for Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services’ Office of Emergency Management, said the meetings will include a review of the draft plan’s structure, the process for adoption and an opportunity to answer questions and take public comment.
The public review sessions will be held:
After the meetings, the public review period will remain open for 30 days, ending June 4.
Source: The Suffolk Times
