2027 Plan Update: Now Underway 

Washington County is currently in the active stages of updating our All-Hazards Mitigation Plan. This process, which occurs every five years as explained above, allows us to reassess the risks facing our community and update our strategies to protect our residents, infrastructure, and economy.

Where We Are Now: The update process officially kicked off on Thursday, May 21st, 2026. We are currently working with our local planning team and municipal officials from all 66 boroughs and townships, to identify new vulnerabilities—ranging from severe weather patterns to emerging technological and cybersecurity threats.

How to Participate: Public input is a mandatory part of this process, and your local knowledge is invaluable.

Take the Survey: Tell us which hazards concern you the most in your neighborhood by completing our survey -
 https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PublicHazID-WashingtonCo

Attend a Meeting: Keep an eye on our Facebook Page for upcoming public meetings.

Why Municipality’s Must Have a Plan and How Can a Municipality Create an All-Hazards Plan:

Hazard mitigation planning is now more important than ever for communities interested in getting federal funds for mitigation projects. Every mitigation grant program sponsored by FEMA now requires applicants to have a federally-approved hazard mitigation plan (HMP) to be eligible for project funding. That means that even if your community is included in a federally-declared disaster, you won't be eligible for a buyout program (for example) unless you already have a FEMA-approved HMP.

To remain eligible for federal and state mitigation funding, municipalities must participate in the County’s current All-Hazards Plan revision process or create their own Hazard Mitigation Plan. Active participation is defined as attending at least one planning meeting and completing all required documentation. Once the update is finalized, the municipality can officially adopt the County plan through a formal Board Resolution.