Worksheet 1: Identifying and Engaging the Planning Team

Use this worksheet to identify partner organizations to invite to be on the planning team. Some organizations do not need to be involved in every decision of the planning process but are stakeholders that require outreach and involvement during the planning process.

Planning Team: The core group responsible for making decisions, guiding the planning process, and agreeing upon the final contents of the plan. These are often leaders from the local communities that will adopt the plan (mayors, town administrators, county commissioners, etc.). Every community that wants to formally adopt the plan must participate in the process!

Stakeholders: Individuals or groups that affect or can be affected by a mitigation action or policy. The plan needs to document how each of the following were at least given the opportunity to participate. These kinds of stakeholders must be invited:

• Local and regional agencies involved in hazard mitigation activities.
  • Public works, emergency management, local floodplain administration and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) departments.
• Agencies with authority to regulate development.
  • Zoning, planning, community and economic development departments; building officials; planning commissions; or other elected officials.
• Neighboring communities.
  • Adjacent local governments, including special districts. These may include those that are affected by similar hazard events or may share a mitigation action or project that crosses boundaries. Neighboring communities may be partners in hazard mitigation and response activities. They may be where critical assets, such as dams, are located.
• Representatives of businesses, academia and other private organizations.
  • Private utilities or major employers that sustain community lifelines.
• Representatives of nonprofit organizations that work directly with and/or provide support to underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations, among others.
  • Community-based organizations, housing authorities, healthcare organizations or social service agencies.

Use the checkboxes in the table below to identify which methods are best for each type of participant and stakeholder. Consider your unique situation. No two communities are exactly alike. Identify what works best for you and your partners.

• What are your expectations for plan participant involvement for each phase of the plan update?
• How can plan participants support the planning process?
• Are there upcoming meetings or events you can use to engage plan participants?