Hazard Mitigation- Howard County

Howard County Hazard Mitigation Plan

Hazard mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies to lessen impacts are prioritized and implemented. The seven participating jurisdictions included in the Howard County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan are:

City of Chester
City of Cresco
City of Elma
City of Lime Springs
City of Protivin
Unincorporated Areas of Howard County
Howard-Winneshiek Community School District
Riceville Community School District

2026 DRAFT Howard County Hazard Mitigation Plan:

The draft 2026 Howard County Hazard Mitigation Plan was available for public review and comment through July 31st, 2026. The draft is currently undergoing review by the Howard County government, and will be forwarded onto Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review in August of 2026. A final version of the plan will be available on this webpage following final approval.

DRAFT 2026 Howard Co. Hazard Mitigation Plan

Resources:

Howard County Emergency Management

Storm Events Database
(NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information)

Mitigation Planning and Grants
(Federal Emergency Management Agency)

Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee:

The Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC) was established to guide development of the Howard County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update. The HMPC included representatives from Howard County, participating jurisdictions, and partner agencies with responsibilities related to emergency management, infrastructure, public health, and community services. The HMPC held four meetings and provided input throughout the planning process, including review of hazard risks, development of mitigation goals and actions, and review of draft plan materials.

HMPC meeting information and resources are provided below:

Planning Committee Meeting 1: Hazard Identification

The first meeting of the county Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee was held on January 7th, 2025.

Materials from Planning Committee Meeting #1 are provided below. They include an introductory presentation to hazard mitigation planning, a summary of hazards at the county level, and hazards that were identified by the countywide committee at the 1st meeting to be included in the plan:

Planning Committee Intro &
Hazard Identification Pres

Hazard Summaries

Hazards for Plan

Planning Committee Meeting 2: Hazard Profiles

The second meeting of the countywide Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee was held on February 6th, 2025.

Materials from Planning Committee Meeting #2 are provided below. They profile hazards impacting the county, including looking at hazard location in the county, magnitude/extent of hazard events, and previous occurrence.

Local Hazard Occurrence &
Impact Data

Planning Committee Meeting 3: Mitigation Goals, Strategies & Actions

The 3rd planning committee meeting was held on March 18th, 2025.

Materials from Planning Committee Meeting #3 are provided below. They include a presentation that addresses mitigation goals and strategies, a review of existing mitigation actions, and FEMA mitigation action prioritization projects for consideration, as well as a listing of county selected mitigation goals and strategies.

Howard Co. Mitigation Goals,
Strategies, Actions Presentation

Howard Co. Mitigation Goals
and Strategies

Planning Committee Meeting 4: Mitigation Action Prioritization & Implementation

The 4th planning committee meeting was held on August 6th, 2025.

Materials from Planning Committee Meeting #4 are provided below, and include the final county Mitigation Action Plan. The action plan includes: A list of mitigation action categories and types, the mitigation action prioritization, and a full list of mitigation actions by community (the Mitigation Action Matrix).

Howard Co. Mitigation
Action Plan

Local Hazard Mitigation Meetings:

Local Hazard Mitigation meetings were held in March and August of 2025. City presentations at these local meetings reviewed local capabilities for responding to hazard risks, critical facilities and infrastructure, locally identified hazard risks, and existing and potential mitigation actions for the community. City presentations are provided below.

Chester Presentation

Cresco Presentation

Elma Presentation

Lime Springs
Presentation

Protivin Presentation