Learn Aberdeen's Plan to Reduce Impact of Future Disasters

Aberdeen's Office of Emergency Management will present the township's portion of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Monmouth County at the council meeting Tuesday, according to the agenda.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan is a county-wide effort coordinated through each municipality's Office of Emergency Management (OEM). In 2000, the federal government passed the Disaster Mitigation Act which requires state and local governments to have preventative plans in place in order to qualify for Federal Emergency Management Funds in the aftermath of a disaster. According to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office, 52 of the 53 municipalities in Monmouth County participate. 

The Act also requires that the plan be updated every five years. This is the first time it is being updated, according to the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office. 

The plan first evaluates what man-made and natural risks the area is susceptible to and how likely they are to occur. It also identifies areas of weakness, such as streets or homes that may flood. According to the Sheriff's Office, the goal is that each revision of the plan will help reduce the impact of disasters in the future.

The Aberdeen Township Council will meet at 7 p.m. at the township municipal building off of Church Street. The presentation is scheduled to be led by Police Chief John Powers, who also serves as the OEM Coordinator.