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CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION TO THE PLANNING PROCESS <br />1-2 <br />1.1.3 Purposes for Planning <br />This hazard mitigation plan identifies resources, information, and strategies for reducing risk from natural <br />hazards. Elements and strategies in the plan were selected because they meet a program requirement and <br />because they best meet the needs of the planning partners and their citizens. One of the benefits of multi- <br />jurisdictional planning is the ability to pool resources and eliminate redundant activities within a planning <br />area that has uniform risk exposure and vulnerabilities. The Federal Emergency Management Agency <br />(FEMA) encourages multi-jurisdictional planning under its guidance for the DMA. The plan update will <br />continue to help guide and coordinate mitigation activities throughout Kittitas County. It was developed to <br />meet the following objectives: <br />• Meet or exceed requirements of the DMA. <br />• Enable all planning partners to continue using federal grant funding to reduce risk through <br />mitigation. <br />• Meet the needs of each planning partner as well as state and federal requirements. <br />• Create a risk assessment that focuses on Kittitas County hazards of concern. <br />• Create a single updated planning document that integrates all planning partners into a <br />framework that supports partnerships within the county, and puts all partners on the same <br />planning cycle for future updates. <br />• Meet the Floodplain Management Planning requirements of FEMA’s Community Rating <br />System (CRS), allowing Kittitas County to continue participation in the CRS and enhance their <br />CRS classification in the future. <br />• Coordinate existing plans and programs so that high-priority initiatives and projects to mitigate <br />possible disaster impacts are funded and implemented. <br />1.2 WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM THIS PLAN? <br />All citizens and businesses of Kittitas County are the ultimate beneficiaries of this hazard mitigation plan. <br />The plan reduces risk for those who live in, work in, and visit the county. It provides a viable planning <br />framework for all foreseeable natural hazards that may impact the county. Participation in development of <br />the plan by key stakeholders in the county helped ensure that outcomes will be mutually beneficial. The <br />resources and background information in the plan are applicable countywide, and the plan’s goals and <br />recommendations can lay groundwork for the development and implementation of local mitigation <br />activities and partnerships. <br />1.3 HOW TO USE THIS PLAN <br />This plan update has been set up in two volumes so that elements that are jurisdiction-specific can easily <br />be distinguished from those that apply to the whole planning area: <br />• Volume 1—Volume 1 includes all federally required elements of a disaster mitigation plan that <br />apply to the entire planning area. This includes the description of the planning process, public <br />involvement strategy, goals and objectives, countywide hazard risk assessment, countywide <br />mitigation initiatives, and a plan maintenance strategy. <br />• Volume 2—Volume 2 includes all federally required jurisdiction-specific elements, in annexes <br />for each participating jurisdiction. It includes a description of the participation requirements <br />established by the steering committee, as well as instructions and templates that the partners <br />used to complete their annexes. Volume 2 also includes “linkage” procedures for eligible