Did you feel the earthquake on Monday? While we cannot always stop hazards from happening, we can take action ahead of time to lessen the impact of those hazards. That’s why the City of Marysville is developing its Hazard Mitigation Plan this year. 

This plan will focus on the Marysville community and what we can do to make it more resilient to disasters. Being more resilient to disasters means we can lessen the impact on lives, property, businesses and the environment. 

“Public involvement is a key piece of developing this plan,” said Sarah LaVelle, the city’s Emergency Preparedness Manager. “We encourage anyone who lives, works or visits the Marysville area to share their thoughts.”

Public meetings will offer the opportunity to hear about plan progress and provide input. The next one will be Wednesday, May 21, from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Marysville Community Center, 1015 State Ave. 

You can also share your thoughts by taking the Hazard Mitigation Plan survey at www.marysvillewa.gov/HazardSurvey

This plan will provide direction over the next five years. Emergency Preparedness staff will work with other city staff, community leaders and key stakeholders to develop mitigation strategies to help better deal with potential hazards including earthquakes, tsunamis, volcanos, severe weather and other threats. The city has completed mitigation projects including building a stormwater treatment plant and upgrading infrastructure to better withstand earthquake shaking.

Modeling and mapping will be used to assess risk and identify community strengths and capabilities. 

Find more information about the Hazard Mitigation Plan, draft materials, and meeting dates on the webpage: www.marysvillewa.gov/HMP. You can also sign up on the webpage to receive notifications for upcoming meetings.