The county's planning department is encouraging municipalities to adopt its revised hazard mitigation plan to remain eligible for monetary federal aid which would lessen the financial burden of natural disasters. (File Photo)

CHENANGO COUNTY - The Chenango County Planning Department is pressing local municipalities to adopt its newly revised hazard mitigation plan, arguing that a failure to do so could cost local towns and villages substantial state and federal emergency aid.

For weeks, the department has promoted the plan to town boards in all four corners of the county. County Planner Shane Butler explained the county’s hazard mitigation plan must be updated every five years, the goal being to better prepare for natural disasters. And under federal guidelines, municipalities simply won’t be eligible for emergency assistance without adopting it.

“The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA have approved this plan, pending adoption by at least 50 percent of the county’s municipalities,” Butler said. “We’ve been going to all the different municipalities. Some of them have requested us to attend their town board meetings to tell them why they need to adopt it.”