Numerous entities in Saline County met Monday, September 15, to provide input for the Saline County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The meeting brought together representatives from local schools, governments, law enforcement, and other groups to review Saline County’s hazard mitigation planning and how it is used to reduce community risk. The Hazard Mitigation Plan is a strategy that aims to reduce loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. Saline County Emergency Management Director Brad Hinz says Monday’s meeting was the first of three meetings that will be held to complete the planning process.

 

Having an approved plan is required in order to access federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for hazard mitigation efforts. Hinz also says the Hazard Mitigation Plan will also open up grant opportunities for groups included in the plan.

 

Hinz says entities have to attend and provide input at one of the three meetings to be included in the final plan, which will be in effect for the next five years. Entities must also submit a completed data questionnaire to the Pioneer Trails Regional Planning Commission, and provide an adoption resolution passed by its governing body. The next two meetings will be held on January 6, 2026, at 1 p.m., and on April 7, 2026, at 5 p.m. The locations for these two meetings is still to be determined.