FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
The City of Holyoke has experienced multiple natural hazard events over the last few years, from heavy rain and flooding to extreme heat events, and from wind storms to winter storms that may lead to power outages. These events serve as continuous reminders of the risks posed by natural disasters. The City has developed and adopted a natural hazard mitigation plan for many years, with updates approximately once every five years. The City is again updating the plan, and the challenges associated with climate change will be incorporated directly to produce a “Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan” for Holyoke. The plan will outline a set of actions that can be taken to reduce losses of property and life due to natural disasters like floods, severe wind events, winter storms, wildfires, droughts, extreme heat events, and earthquakes. The adverse impacts of invasive species will be incorporated into the plan for the first time.
The Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan for Holyoke will continue to make the City eligible for hazard mitigation assistance grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Past planning efforts related to climate change can be reviewed at the City’s web site (www.holyoke.org/conservation-municipal-vulnerability-preparedness-in-holyoke/), and the Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment can be viewed at www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-climate-change-assessment.
People living and working in Holyoke will have several opportunities to provide input to the planning process. An internet-based survey has been developed and can be accessed at https://arcg.is/Oireb.
A public information session is scheduled for early October. The meeting will be held at the Holyoke Public Library (250 Chestnut Street, Holyoke) at 6:00 PM on October 3, 2024. The Holyoke Public Library is located on the PVTA bus routes P20, P21, P21E, B23, R24, X90.
Please contact the City’s office of Conservation and Sustainability with any questions about the process. Contact information is available at www.holyoke.org/departments/conservation/
Stay tuned for information about a public workshop later in the autumn for additional opportunities for engagement.
