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2026 Houghton County Hazard Mitigation Public Opinion Survey

Houghton County Hazard Mitigation Public Opinion Survey

We need your input!
Houghton County is updating its five-year Hazard Mitigation Plan, as required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to remain eligible for federal hazard mitigation funding. Houghton County staff and a local planning committee are working with the Western Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Region (WUPPDR) to complete the update.

Hazard mitigation includes any action taken before, during, or after a disaster to reduce risks to people, property, infrastructure, and the environment from natural, technological, or human-related hazards. Public input is important to this planning process. The information you provide will help us better understand local hazard concerns, prioritize mitigation activities, and guide future projects that help lessen the impact of hazards in Houghton County.

Participation is voluntary but strongly encouraged. All responses will remain confidential. Please respond by Monday, July 20, 2026.

If you have questions regarding this survey or would like to learn about more ways that you can participate in the planning process, please contact:
Rachael Pressley, Project Lead
rpressley@wuppdr.org

Thank you for your time and participation!

Key definitions:
Hazard - Something that is potentially dangerous or harmful, often the root cause of an unwanted outcome.
Mitigation - Refers to those capabilities necessary to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.
Risk - The possibility of a loss or injury.
Vulnerability - A description of how exposed or susceptible an asset is to damage.
1.Where do you live in Houghton County?
2.During the past five (5) years, have you or someone in your household directly experienced a hazard in Houghton County, such as a severe windstorm, flood, or other type of hazard?
3.IF YES, which hazard(s) have you or someone in your household experienced in the past five (5) years?
4.How concerned are you about the following hazards affecting your home and community in the next five (5) years?
Very Concerned
Somewhat Concerned
Neutral
Not Very Concerned
Not Concerned
Extreme Weather Temperatures (hot)
Extreme Weather Temperatures (cold)
Fog
Hail
Ice and Sleet Storms
Lightning
Severe Winds (Windstorms)
Snowstorms and Blizzards
Tornadoes
Earthquakes
Landslide/Mudslide
Subsidence (Sink holes or ground collapse, mine-related or not)
Dam Failure
Drought
Flooding due to precipitation event or snowmelt
Shoreline Flooding and Erosion
Invasive Species
Wildfires
Scrap Tire Fires
Structural Fires
Hazardous Materials, Fixed Site (e.g. buildings or industrial site)
Hazardous Materials, Transportation-related (e.g. waste spill from traffic)
Petroleum/Natural Gas Pipeline Incident (e.g. rupture/leak resulting in outage)
Infrastructure Failure & resulting hazards (e.g. communications outage)
Transportation Accidents (car crashes)
Civil Disturbances (rioting)
Public Health Emergencies
Sabotage/Terrorism
5.Have you taken any actions to make your home or community more resistant to hazards?
6.IF YES, please explain:
7.Is your home located on a floodplain?
8.Does your street or home flood regularly during significant rain events?
9.IF YES, what are the closest major cross streets to this location?
10.If your street or home does flood regularly during significant rain events, how many times did it flood in the past 12 months?
11.Do you have flood insurance?
12.If you do NOT have flood insurance, please indicate reason(s) below. 
13.What are the most effective ways for you to receive information during or immediately following a hazard emergency? (Check all that apply)
14.In your opinion, what are some steps or projects your local government could complete to reduce or eliminate the risk for future hazard damages to your community?
15.Several community-wide activities can reduce our risk from hazards. In general, these activities fall into one of six broad categories. Please tell us how important you think each one is for your community to consider doing:
Very Important
Somewhat Important
Not Important
Prevention:
Administrative or regulatory actions that influence the way land is developed and buildings are built. Examples include planning & zoning, building codes, open space preservation, and floodplain regulations.
Property Protection
Modification or removal of existing buildings to protect them from a hazard. Examples include purchase, relocation, raised elevation, and structural retrofits (updates)
Natural Resource Protection
Preservation or restoration of the functions of natural systems while minimizing hazard losses. Examples include floodplain protection, forest management, and slope stabilization.
Structural Projects
Modification of the natural conditions for or progression of a hazard. Examples include dams, levees, seawalls, detention/retention basins, channel modification, retaining walls, and storm sewers.
Emergency Services
Protection of people and property during and immediately after a hazard event. Examples include warning systems, evacuation planning, emergency response training, and protection of emergency facilities.
Public Education and Awareness
Informing of citizens about hazards and the techniques they can use to protect themselves and their property. Examples include outreach, school education, library materials, and demonstration events.
16.Additional comments:
Current Progress,
0 of 16 answered