Lower Burrell passes hazard plan to receive money for federal disasters

Lower Burrell Council recently agreed to participate in the Westmoreland County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which helps the city prepare for disasters.

It also sets up Lower Burrell to respond and receive money to pay for expenses for disasters like floods and hurricanes.

Since 1955, Presidential Disaster and Emergency Declarations have been issued for damaging weather such as hurricanes, tropical storms, severe winter storms and flooding.

There are 40 communities participating in the disaster plan out of 65 municipalities in Westmoreland County, according to Cassandra Kovatch, spokeswoman for the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety.

County and local plans are updated every five years to reassess risks and update local strategies to manage those risks.

“By passing the resolution to participate in the county plan, it eases the burden at the local level for each municipality to establish and update their own Hazard Mitigation Plan,” said Amy Rockwell, Lower Burrell city administrator.

To join the hazard plan, communities have to document their hazard mitigation planning process and identify hazards, potential losses, and mitigation needs, goals and strategies.

Rockwell said the city needs to have a plan aligned with the county plan to get money to pay for disaster-related expenses.

“We appreciate the efforts of the Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety in this 2020 plan update,” Rockwell said.

Of the 40 communities participating in the disaster plan, Lower Burrell is among 11 communities that have adopted the county plan, Kovatch said. She anticipates more municipalities to sign on in the upcoming year.