North Fork Tribe preparing plan to deal with hazards

The North Fork Rancheria of Mono Indians is developing a tribal hazard mitigation plan for approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

First and foremost, the mitigation plan will serve as an essential strategy for reducing current and future risks to natural hazards and improving the emergency preparedness of the entire community.

Tribal citizen participation is essential! Tribal citizens and non-members are welcome to attend.

Join the Tribal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Team on Wednesday, Jan. 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. or from 6 to 7 p.m. at the North Fork Rancheria Community Center to share your ideas for reducing risk and becoming less vulnerable to natural hazards such as wildfires, floods, and windstorms.

At the meeting, you will learn about the process of developing the Tribe’s Hazard Mitigation Plan and can contribute your ideas for making the community more resilient against natural hazards. The meeting will be held in the Tribal Community Center and food and refreshments will be served!

The purpose of the Hazard Mitigation Plan is to identify and assess the tribe’s natural hazard risks and determine how to best minimize and manage those risks. The Hazard Mitigation Plan will focus on the identification, assessment, and mitigation of natural hazards such as wildfires, floods, and other potential disaster events.

Once approved by FEMA, the plan will make the Tribe eligible to apply for pre- and post- mitigation project grant funding through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) programs and other non-emergency disaster assistance. A draft plan is scheduled for completion and review in August 2018.

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If you have any questions regarding the public meeting, or would like to learn about more ways you can participate in the development of the Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plan, please contact Christina McDonald, environmental director by phone: 559-877-2461 x103 or email: cmcdonald@nfr-nsn.gov.