NORWICH – A consultant was on hand at the Chenango County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday to review the procedures for implementing a $100,000 multi-jurisdictional all-hazard mitigation plan.

In addition to 20 town supervisors, mayors from the following villages were present: Sherburne, Greene, Oxford, New Berlin, Afton and Bainbridge.

The document is designed to help individuals and governmental sectors recover damages from a whole gamut of natural disasters, whether or not the disaster is declared “official” by the federal government. It will demonstrate the county’s overall commitment to reducing risk and serve as a guide for decision makers as they commit resources to minimize the effect of natural hazards.

The Federal Emergency Management Association has such plans a pre-requisite in order to claim damages in the future.

Tetra Tech EM Inc. was hired last month by the county at a cost not to exceed $95,000. County leaders appropriated $23,750 of general surplus funds from the Public Works Department to help cover the expenses, and hope to cover the remainder of the cost with a New York State Emergency Management Office grant and/or federal funds available for pre-disaster mitigation planning.

The New Jersey-based consulting firm recently completed similar plans for Thompkins, Delaware and Broome counties. Chenango’s plan is expected to be finished in six months.