The City of Newcastle is seeking public input on its proposed Hazard Mitigation Plan.

“Mitigation is one step of the disaster preparedness cycle,” explained Steve Roberge, Newcastle’s Community Development Director. “It is the actions and projects we can take to minimize or eliminate threats to life safety, property and the ecology from natural or man-made hazards.”

As part of this plan, the city takes a close look at what it can do to keep people safe while being cost effective and sensitive to the financial realities the city operates under, Roberge added.

People are asked to review the 20-page document and provide any comments or feedback they might have by Monday February 23. The document may be downloaded from www.ci.newcastle.wa.us/, or copies may be picked up at the front desk of City Hall.

After the public comment period, the Mitigation Plan will be submitted to the King County Office of Emergency Management (OEM) to be reviewed and annexed to the existing plan. Once King County OEM reviews and approves the document, they will forward it to the State and FEMA for additional review and final approval.

The natural hazards identified for Newcastle are earthquake, floods, storms, volcanoes and wild-land fires. Man-made hazards include those issues associated with the pipelines and coalmine shafts in the area.