PUBLIC PARTICIPATION SURVEY

We need your help!

Our community is currently engaged in a planning process to become less vulnerable to disasters caused by natural hazards, and your participation is important to us!

Catawba County and its municipalities are working together to prepare a Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The purpose of this Plan is to identify and assess our community’s natural hazard risks (such as flooding, winter storms, tornadoes and wildfires) and determine how to best minimize or manage those risks. Upon completion, the Plan will become presented to each local governing body for adoption and then submitted to the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency Management Agency for review and approval.

This survey questionnaire provides an opportunity for you to share your opinions and participate in the mitigation planning process. The information you provide will help us better understand your hazard concerns and can lead to mitigation activities that should help lessen the impact of future hazard events.

If you have any questions regarding this survey, or would like to learn about more ways you can participate in the development of our Hazard Mitigation Plan, please contact Mary George with Catawba County Planning & Community Development at (828) 465-8264 or by e-mail at mary@catawbacountync.gov.

	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
1. Prevention	A number of community-wide activities can reduce our risk from natural hazards. In general, these activities fall into one of the following six broad categories. Please tell us how important you think each one is for your community to consider pursuing. 1. Prevention Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Administrative or regulatory actions that influence the way land is developed and buildings are built. Examples include planning and zoning, building codes, open space preservation, and floodplain regulations.	Administrative or regulatory actions that influence the way land is developed and buildings are built. Examples include planning and zoning, building codes, open space preservation, and floodplain regulations. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
2. Property Protection	2. Property Protection Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Actions that involve the modification of existing buildings to protect them from a hazard or removal from the hazard area. Examples include acquisition, relocation, elevation, structural retrofits, and storm shutters.	Actions that involve the modification of existing buildings to protect them from a hazard or removal from the hazard area. Examples include acquisition, relocation, elevation, structural retrofits, and storm shutters. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
3. Natural Resource Protection	3. Natural Resource Protection Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Actions that, in addition to minimizing hazard losses, also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Examples include: floodplain protection, habitat preservation, slope stabilization, riparian buffers, and forest management.	Actions that, in addition to minimizing hazard losses, also preserve or restore the functions of natural systems. Examples include: floodplain protection, habitat preservation, slope stabilization, riparian buffers, and forest management. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
4. Structural Projects	4. Structural Projects Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Actions intended to lessen the impact of a hazard by modifying the natural progression of the hazard. Examples include dams, levees, seawalls, detention/retention basins, channel modification, retaining walls and storm sewers.	Actions intended to lessen the impact of a hazard by modifying the natural progression of the hazard. Examples include dams, levees, seawalls, detention/retention basins, channel modification, retaining walls and storm sewers. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
5. Emergency Services	5. Emergency Services Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Actions that protect people and property during and immediately after a hazard event. Examples include warning systems, evacuation planning, emergency response training, and protection of critical emergency facilities or systems.	Actions that protect people and property during and immediately after a hazard event. Examples include warning systems, evacuation planning, emergency response training, and protection of critical emergency facilities or systems. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
6. Public Education and Awareness	6. Public Education and Awareness Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important
Actions to inform citizens about hazards and the techniques they can use to protect themselves and their property. Examples include outreach projects, school education programs, library materials and demonstration events.	Actions to inform citizens about hazards and the techniques they can use to protect themselves and their property. Examples include outreach projects, school education programs, library materials and demonstration events. Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not Important

Hazard Mitigation Planning

1. What city/town do you live in?

2. Have you ever experienced or been impacted by a disaster?

3. How concerned are you about the possibility of our community being impacted by a disaster?

4. Please select the one hazard you think is the highest threat to your neighborhood:

5. Please select the one hazard you think is the second highest threat to your neighborhood:

6. Is there another hazard not listed above that you think is wide-scale threat to your neighborhood?

7. Is your home located in a floodplain?

8. Do you have Flood Insurance?

9. If you answered "No" to question 8, why not?

10. Have you taken any actions to make your home or neighborhood more resistant to natural hazards?

11. Are you interested in making your home or neighborhood more resistant to natural hazards?

12. What is the most effective way for you to receive information about how to make your home and neighborhood more resistant to natural hazards?

13. In your opinion, what are some steps your local government could take to reduce or eliminate the risk of future natural hazard damages in your neighborhood?

14. Are there any other issues regarding the reduction of risk and loss associated with natural hazards or disasters in the community that you think are important?

15. A number of community-wide activities can reduce our risk from natural hazards. In general, these activities fall into one of the following six broad categories. Please tell us how important you think each one is for your community to consider pursuing.