While Connecticut has enjoyed a period of relative calm over the last five years, the tropical systems of 2021 (Elsa, Fred, Henri, and Ida) and the severe flood of August 2024 were reminders of the risks posed by natural disasters.

The region’s communities have shared in the development and adoption of a “natural hazard mitigation plan” for two decades, with updates incorporated every five years. Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs ) evaluate the potential risks of natural hazards and provide recommendations to mitigate impacts. The plans also serve as prerequisite for numerous grant opportunities. Western Connecticut Council of Governments (WestCOG) provides this content regionally and locally for each of its 18 member municipalities.

HMPs are updated every five years; WestCOG is developing its HMP for 2026-2031 (note, the existing HMP is active until December 2026).

WestCOG is performing resilience planning to inform future hazard mitigation plans. Efforts will lead to mitigation 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.

Residents of and those who work in WestCOG’s 18 municipalities — Newtown, along with Bethel, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Danbury, Darien, Greenwich, New Canaan, New Fairfield, New Milford, Norwalk, Redding, Ridgefield, Sherman, Stamford, Weston, Westport, and Wilton — are invited to take a short online survey — five questions, five minutes — and sign up for updates for upcoming public meetings at arcg.is/1W1TvC0.