Lenox to hold hazard mitigation listening workshop
Lenox — Climate change presents a number of risks to New England communities, and is likely to increase the risks and potential impacts presented by existing natural hazards. Lenox is no exception, and the town is participating in the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness program. The MVP program provides support for municipalities in Massachusetts to plan for and implement projects that mitigate the impacts of climate change and natural hazards. Communities that complete the MVP program become certified as MVP communities. This certification makes Lenox eligible for funding to complete projects identified and prioritized in the Lenox Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. These goals and projects were identified through a day-long resilience building workshop held at Lenox Town Hall in November 2019, where a diverse collection of stakeholders convened to learn about the risks posed by climate change and how the community could be impacted in the not-so-distant future.
As a follow up to the stakeholder workshop, a public listening session is scheduled for Thursday, March 12, at 7 p.m. in the Duffin Theater at Lenox Memorial Middle and High School. Those who attend will have the opportunity to hear what type of risks Lenox is susceptible to from climate change, and hear about priority goals, objectives and actions. Input will help determine what projects the town will seek funding for in the short-term future.
Participants will also have the opportunity to provide input on the Lenox Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan. Public comments will inform future projects the town may seek both state and federal funding to implement. Those interested in receiving a copy of the draft Lenox Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan when available should contact Berkshire Regional Planning Commission’s Caroline Massa at cmassa@berkshireplanning.org or Justin Gilmore at jgilmore@berkshireplanning.org. The plan will be submitted for approval to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and ultimately adopted by the town.
