Both Warwick and Northfield will hold public meetings this month to discuss how natural disasters are impacting the area, and how the towns can become more resilient in the face of climate change.
Town officials and interested community members are invited to the joint, informational meetings on Monday, Feb. 24, at 6:30 p.m. at Warwick Town Hall and Thursday, Feb. 27, at 6:30 p.m. at Northfield Town Hall.
Helena Farrell, land use and natural resources planner with the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) explained in a press release that “the two towns are currently developing a combined Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Community Resilience Building and Hazard Mitigation Regional Plan, in partnership with the FRCOG Planning Department.” FRCOG’s consulting services are being covered by a $39,000 grant that the two towns were jointly awarded on Feb. 6.
The new MVP plan will identify the greatest risk of damage by hazards, and its creation will see town officials discussing the relevant policies, programs and regulations that are in place in each town. Additionally, the plan will identify and prioritize action steps to prevent loss of life and damage to property, and identify shared needs and resources for making both towns more resilient to the affects of climate change.
Once the new plan is approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, and adopted by the towns, Northfield and Warwick will become certified MVP communities and will be eligible for additional state and federal grants. This funding can be used for projects that address climate change resilience, as well as pre-disaster and post-disaster hazard mitigation.
Meeting notices and agendas can be found at the two town halls or on the town websites at northfieldma.gov and warwickma.org.
Zack DeLuca can be reached at zdeluca@recorder.com or 413-930-4579.