Ford County committee holding public meeting on severe weather plans

PAXTON, Ill. (WCIA) — Ford County planning committee members are meeting on Tuesday evening to discuss severe weather in the area and to start building a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan. They are inviting members of the public to provide input.

The meeting will be at 6 p.m. at the Roberts Gym at 118 West Weldon Street in Roberts. The Ford County Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning Committee consists of local representatives, including school and fire protection district officials, as well as technical partners and stakeholders.

“At this meeting we will identify how often severe weather events occur within the County and what types of damages have resulted. Based on this information we will begin to compile lists of activities and projects to reduce damages caused by these events,” said Terry Whitebird, Ford County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator.

This will be one of several meetings that will take place over the next few months as the team develops a blueprint against damaging weather conditions. The primary focus will be on natural hazards, thunderstorms with intense winds or hail, tornadoes, snow and ice storms, floods, drought, and extreme heat and cold.

“This plan will be our best resource for determining how to prepare for storms and other natural hazards,” Whitebird continued. “After the Plan is completed, information will be available in one document to help guide those who are making decisions about how to better protect Ford County residents.”

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