Public meetings are planned to gather input from the community on the Comprehensive All-Hazard Mitigation Plan that is being created for Stearns County by the Stearns County Emergency Management Department. A hazard mitigaton plan identifies a community’s disaster vulnerabilities and then proposes strategies or ways to reduce or eliminate those threats. This planning process involves seeking input from across the county and integrating it in an all-encompassing study of disaster prevention in Stearns County. Local meetings will be at: o 7 p.m. Thursday, July 1, at the Stearns County Board Room, 705 Courthouse Square in St. Cloud; and o 7 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at the St. Joseph Fire Hall, 323 Fourth Ave. NW in St. Joseph. Background information for the plan is being researched and compiled into an early working draft. A recent version of this draft can be viewed online at www.co.stearns.mn.us/depart ments/emergency/hazard_plan. htm, and will be updated regularly. Feedback is vital for this plan to become an effective and useful tool in making Stearns County a safer place. Questions or comments can be directed to Charlie Gallagher at (320) 259-3942, or by e-mail at charlie.gallagher@co.stearns.mn.us.
