By Natalie Easterday
Regional Emergency Management Planner

The City of Franklin and Southampton County are currently updating the City of Franklin All-Hazard Mitigation Plan and the Southampton County All-Hazard Mitigation Plan, respectively. As part of the update process residents are asked to provide their input on potential natural and man-made hazards that may impact their communities in addition to mitigation strategies to reduce the potential impact.

In order to help facilitate this process, planning committees for each plan have developed a hazard mitigation website (http://www.remtac.org/mitigation/Home.aspx) where citizens can view a calendar of events and provide comments. In addition a series of public meetings will be held to solicit input. The first citizen meeting is scheduled for 6:00pm on March 22nd for the residents of the City of Franklin, Southampton County, and the Towns of Boykins, Branchville, Capron, Courtland, Ivor, and Newsoms. The meeting will be held in City Council Chambers of Franklin City Hall located at 207 West Second Ave., Franklin, VA 23851 with parking available on the 1st Ave. side of the building. During the meeting residents will be provided an overview of both hazard mitigation plans and an opportunity to provide public comment.

Additional public meetings will be announced during the coming weeks. For a more information on the hazard mitigation planning process visit the project website (http://www.remtac.org/mitigation/Home.aspx).