Rural residents asked to update county's natural hazard plan

People who live outside the Eugene-Springfield area are being asked to take a short online survey to help update Lane County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Lane County’s Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan is updated every five years and aims to reduce long-term risk from natural hazards around the region. I

Officials say updating this plan also makes Lane County and area cities eligible for federal grants and funding to help mitigate potential impacts from disasters like conducting fuel reduction projects to reduce risks from wildfires.

“Lane County is a beautiful place. There aren’t many counties where you can ski and surf on the same day, but alongside this natural beauty that we all appreciate is a high risk for natural disasters,” said Lane County Emergency Manager Patence Winningham. “We regularly experience flooding, wildfire, and severe winter storms, and we are at high risk of significant seismic events – including the major Cascadia earthquake.”

Residents can weigh in on the plan update by providing input on topics like:

Do you think Lane County should focus on fuel reduction?

Should culverts and bridges be updated to withstand flooding?

The survey is available online at: LaneCountyOR.gov/mitigation. Paper copies of the survey can be requested by calling 541-682-6967 or emailing [email protected].