The Erie County Emergency Management Agency is currently leading a project to update the Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. This mitigation plan serves as a roadmap to reducing the impacts of hazards on Erie County. This questionnaire is designed to help the team designated to lead this project understand the concerns that the residents of Erie County have about the hazards which their communities face.  Your responses will help guide the development of this important plan.

Please note survey responses are kept confidential.  Participation in this survey is voluntary and your completed questionnaire indicates your willingness to participate in the survey.  Thank you for taking the time to help your community with the preparation of our mitigation plan.

If you have any questions regarding this survey, please contact JoAnne Huie at JoAnneH@AllClearEMG.com.

Helpful Definitions
Critical Facilities - Any building or structure that provides services to people that are important during an emergency. Examples include fire stations, hospitals and 9-1-1 dispatch centers. Other critical facilities can include buildings that house vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, or buildings or structures that house hazardous materials that can create additional risks if that building is damaged during a natural disaster.  

Hazardous Materials - Any solid, liquid, or gas that has the potential to cause harm to people, animals, property or the environment. Examples include fertilizers, gasoline, or other chemicals involved in manufacturing. 

Invasive Species - Any kind of living organism (including plants, insects, animals, etc.) that is not native to where it is found. They can cause damage to the environment or human health. Examples include Emerald Ash Borer, zebra mussels, and Gypsy Moths.

Natural Disaster - A major event caused by natural processes of the Earth. These can cause loss of life and property damage. Some result in economic damage for a long time after the event. Examples include flooding, landslides, tornadoes, and wildfires.

Natural Hazard - Any risk to people and property caused by a natural process of the earth that has the potential to be dangerous.  Natural disasters are caused by natural hazards, such as tornadoes and floods. 

Mitigation - Actions done to reduce or eliminate a risk to people and property.  Mitigation helps reduce damage caused by natural hazards. Examples include not building in areas that have been known to flood frequently or putting salt or sand on roadways in the winter to reduce traffic accidents caused by ice.

Resistant - The ability to withstand harmful effects of something, such as natural disasters. One type of resistant building is a tornado shelter that is specifically built to protect people from the effects of tornadoes. 

Risk - Risk or threat is the possibility of something bad happening. The risk of a winter storm in Ohio is greater than the risk of a hurricane.

Vulnerable Populations - Groups of people who are at a higher risk than the overall population to experience more severe effects from natural disasters.  Examples include residents of a nursing home, young children, and people with limited resources. 

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* 1. In which community do you live?

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* 2. Do you own or rent your home?

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* 3. Do you have flood insurance?

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* 4. Would you be willing to make your home more resistant to disasters?

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

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* 6. How informed do you feel about the natural hazard risks (earthquake, tornado, winter storm, etc.)  facing Erie County?

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* 7. Please check the box that indicates how concerned you are about the following hazards affecting your community.

  Extremely Concerned Very Concerned Concerned Somewhat Concerned No Concerned
Drought
Earthquake
Flooding
Invasive Species (Gypsy Moths, Emerald Ash Borer, etc.)
Severe Summer Storm
Severe Winter Storm
Tornado
Wildfire

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* 8. Are there  natural hazards you are concerned about that are not listed above?  If so, please list them below.

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* 9. What types of hazards have you personally experienced in Erie County? (example:  flooding at my home, tornado at my place of work, winter storms, etc.)

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* 10. Are there places in your community that are impacted, or could be impacted, by specific hazards? (e.g. Main Street floods after heavy rain.)  If so, please describe the hazard and the specific location.

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* 11. In your opinion, what are some actions your local government could take to reduce the risk of future hazard damages to your community?

Questions 12-17 describe different methods that can be used to reduce the risk that hazards pose to lives and property.  Please share how important you think each of these methods are in reducing risk in Erie County.

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* 12. Prevention Strategies - These are actions taken to keep a problem from getting worse.
An example of a prevention strategy are laws and ordinances that prevent construction of new buildings in floodplains.

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* 13. Property Protection Strategies - These are actions taken to lessen the risk of damage to property.
Examples of property protection strategies include removing homes from the floodplain and elevating homes to stay above water levels during flooding.

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* 14. Public Education and Awareness Strategies - These are actions taken to inform the public about hazardous areas and the actions necessary to avoid potential injury or damage.
Examples of public education and awareness strategies include outreach programs, notices to residents and property owners, and public service announcements, such as the "Turn Around, Don't Drown" campaign.

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* 15. Natural Resource Protection Strategies - These are actions intended to protect the environment.
Examples of natural resource protection strategies include placing limits on hunting and fishing, and requiring boaters to completely clean off the hull of their boats before moving them from one body of water to another.

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* 16. Critical Facility Protection - These are actions taken to protect critical facilities which are important to response efforts. 
An example of critical facility protection strategy is placing backup generators in hospitals to ensure there is electrical power even in the event of a widespread power outage.

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* 17. Structural Project Strategies - These are actions which directly protect people and property through the construction of manmade structures.
Examples of structural project strategies include adding additional storm sewers or elevating roadways to reduce flooding.

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* 18. If you are interested in learning more about emergency preparedness and hazard mitigation, how do you want to receive this information? Check all that may apply.

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* 19. How are you currently receiving emergency information in Erie County or your jurisdiction? Check all that may apply.

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* 20. Do you have any other comments, concerns or suggestions about hazard mitigation planning in your community?

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