Post Messenger Recorder -

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced that Dane County will convene a series of listening sessions to give people an opportunity to discuss concerns about natural hazards and disasters.  Dane County is in the process of updating its natural hazard mitigation plan and is inviting public involvement and input.  Local governments, businesses, and the public are encouraged to attend. On average, each dollar spent on mitigation saves society an average of $4 in avoided future losses in addition to saving lives and preventing injuries. 

Dane County is, for the first time, addressing the threat of natural hazards in light of the region’s changing climate. The hazard planning will examine climate trends and determine their projected impacts on the natural hazards the plan addresses, such as flooding and extreme heat. The inclusion of climate change factors in hazard analysis will ensure Dane County takes appropriate steps to protect its citizen’s personal and economic safety through mitigation efforts that consider the changing threat of natural hazards. 

“The forces of Mother Nature can strike quickly and the more we can do before disasters happen to reduce the potential for damages, the safer our citizens will be,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “In recent years, record droughts, historic rains and sweltering heat have all impacted the personal and economic safety of our citizens. As our changing climate results in a growing number of extreme weather events, it’s important we assess our climate change vulnerabilities and adapt.” 

Most people who live or work in Dane County have been affected by natural hazards in one way or another.  Dane County residents are vulnerable to a variety of hazards, including extreme temperatures, severe winter weather, tornadoes, and floods.  These extreme weather events seem to be occurring more and more frequently, often with disastrous results.  

Torrential rains and tornadoes cannot be prevented from occurring.  Planning for natural hazards and implementing mitigation measures, however, can reduce the impact of such events when they do occur.  Emergency response and recovery costs can be reduced.  Property damage and monetary losses can be reduced.  Personal injury and loss of life can be reduced.  The economic and social impact on the community as a whole can be reduced. 

Dane County Emergency Management will facilitate the public listening sessions.  “These meetings will give people the opportunity to talk directly with County staff who have been working on the project and to review and comment on the initial findings of the planning process.  We encourage people to attend, express their concerns, and have a voice in setting priorities and developing countywide and local hazard mitigation strategies,” said Emergency Management Director Charles Tubbs.

The planning process is a cooperative effort between the County and forty-one local jurisdictions within Dane County.  Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans are important steps that communities take to assess the threat of various natural hazards in their area and make decisions on how to best limit the loss of life and property when the disasters occur.

The public input meetings will be held in four communities. The City of Madison will hold a meeting on Tuesday, January 12, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Madison Water Utility, 119 E. Olin Avenue, Madison. The Village of Cambridge will hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 13, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Cambridge Village Hall, 200 Spring Street, Cambridge. The Town of Westport will hold a meeting on Thursday, January 14, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Westport Town Hall, 5387 Mary Lake Road, Westport. The Town of Montrose will hold a meeting on Wednesday, January 20, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Montrose Town Hall, 1341 Diane Avenue, Montrose.