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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 5: Mitigation Strategy 227 <br />Implementation Priority <br />Priorities were assessed by requesting that every new mitigation action submitted by the plan participants <br />be ranked by each of the eight (8) criteria factors (i.e., STAPLEE+E). Each criterion is evaluated on a <br />scale from one (1) to five (5), with one (1) defined as strongly disagree and five (5) as strong agree. <br />Therefore, the highest favorable score would be 40, meaning the action scored five (5) in all eight (8) <br />categories. Table 5-8 delineates how the STAPLEE+E prioritization score was used to prioritize the <br />implementation of each mitigation actions. <br />Table 5-8. New Mitigation Action Implementation Priority Parameters <br />Implementation <br />Priority STAPLEE+E Prioritization Score <br />High 30 – 40 points <br />Medium 19 – 29 points <br />Low 8 – 18 points <br /> <br />Mitigation actions with the highest scores represent those mitigation initiatives that represent the highest <br />priority. In addition to the STAPLEE+E Method, the Steering Committee identified those actions that <br />represented the greatest importance and priority to Kittitas County’s plan participants. It should be noted <br />that, although the STAPLEE+E Method provides a standardized process for assigning priority/importance <br />across all participating jurisdictions, there may be additional factors and considerations that elevate the <br />status of a particular mitigation action. This is why input from the Steering Committee is also an important <br />consideration in this process. <br />5.4. CHANGES IN PRIORITY <br />A community’s mitigation priorities may change over time for a number of reasons. Addressing these <br />changes allows a community to redirect actions that reflect current conditions, including financial and <br />political realities, or changes in conditions or priorities following disaster events. Changes in the priority <br />of a Hazard Mitigation Plan are often dynamic and reflect the evolving understanding of risk, the <br />availability of resources, and the needs of the community. This helps ensure that the Plan remains <br />relevant and effective in reducing vulnerability to the hazards identified in the Plan by the community. <br />Kittitas County has identified the following changes in priorities for the 2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan: <br /> <br />• There were no changes to the previous mitigation goals and objectives. However, three (3) <br />additional objectives included an objective that focuses on identifying and implementing inclusive <br />actions that reduce vulnerability for residents and visitors within Kittitas County, including the <br />underserved population. The new objectives are 1.D, 3.C, and 4.B, listed in Table 5-1. <br />• There are three (3) new plan participants – Kittitas Valley Fire Rescue, Kittitas County Fire District <br />#6, and CWU. <br />• All mitigation actions from the previous Plan were updated, and a more concerted effort on <br />achieving equitable outcomes for all communities, including underserved communities and <br />socially vulnerable populations, has been implemented. <br />• Wildfire Smoke was added as a sub-hazard under wildfire because the County acknowledges <br />that a wildfire that is not within Kittitas County can impact the area with wildfire smoke, even when <br />the wildfire is taking place thousands of miles away. Furthermore, the CDC recognizes wildfire <br />smoke as a public health hazard and the Washington State Enhanced Mitigation Plan <br />acknowledges wildfire smoke as a natural hazard (under the wildfire hazard).