On May 15, the Acton community gathered to provide input on the upcoming Town Hazard Mitigation Plan. Organized by the Acton Hazard Mitigation Planning (HMP) Working Group, the event was led by Andrea Becerra, Sustainability Director and Corey York, Director of Public Works,with support from Elizabeth Montgomery, Environmental Consultant with SLR. The aim was to gather feedback to help reduce risks to Acton’s residents, economy, and natural environments.
The Hazard Mitigation Plan Working Group first met on February 28, 2024, as reported in the Acton Exchange article on the HMP launch. The plan addresses natural hazards such as floods, droughts, winter storms, and wildfires, outlining actions to mitigate damage and reduce risks.
The current Hazard Mitigation Plan, last updated in 2018, requires a review every five years to remain eligible for federal emergency management (FEMA) grants. Recent severe weather, such as the microburst in Acton on September 8, 2023, also highlighted the need for improved preparedness. A separate Acton Municipal Vulnerability Planning (MVP) process is ongoing, focusing on vulnerable populations and ensuring they have necessary resources during hazards and climate-related events.
Andrea Becerra emphasized the workshop’s goal of identifying gaps in Acton’s preparedness for hazards and climate change to make our community more resilient. Becerra added that the updated Hazard Mitigation Plan will take into account climate change, which is expected to exacerbate natural hazards, including increasing the frequency and intensity of storms. As part of the workshop, participants were asked to indicate their residence, favorite places in Acton to preserve, and areas of concern, using sticky dots on a town map. The focus included the Acton Stormwater Management Plan and FEMA maps identifying flood-prone areas and additional input to the Town Master Plan process.
Corey York discussed the importance of the public process in updating the HMP, allowing for diverse input that helps prioritize and plan town projects, such as the River Street Dam Project. York highlighted the benefits of community feedback for improving communication and response during “good weather” so we are prepared and communications and processes are in place (with police and fire, utilities, residents, businesses, etc.) when adverse weather hits.
Acton resident Sharon Gruet, affected by the microburst, stressed the need for better preparation for unexpected extreme weather events (e.g., tornadoes, flash floods) similar to those experienced in other parts of the country.
The town seeks further input from residents and businesses. Contact Andrea Becerra at sustainability@actonma.gov or Corey York at cyork@actonma.gov for questions or feedback. Save the date for the Town of Acton Climate Resilience Festival happening Saturday, June 8th, 1-4PM, at Gardner Field in West Acton. For more details, visit: bit.ly/ActonClimateFestival.