McKinley County Updates Hazard Mitigation Plan, Opens Draft For Review

McKinley County is finalizing a five year update to its Multi Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan in coordination with the City of Gallup and Gallup McKinley County Schools, and has posted the draft plan and appendices for public review. The plan inventory identifies primary natural hazards affecting the county, including wildfire, flood, winter storms, and drought, and it analyzes risk and vulnerability across municipal and school jurisdictions.

The update moves beyond hazard identification to propose prioritized mitigation projects and actions aimed at reducing future losses and improving community safety. Examples of proposed measures include drainage improvements to reduce flood risk, utility tie downs to protect critical systems during severe weather, establishment of cooling centers for extreme heat events, and expanded public outreach to inform residents about preparedness steps. Projects are ranked to guide local investment and to make the plan compatible with federal grant requirements.

An approved FEMA eligible mitigation plan is required to support federal grant applications and other funding opportunities that pay for many of these projects. With the draft now available for review, McKinley County and its partners can position priority projects for grant cycles that fund infrastructure upgrades, community preparedness, and resilience building in vulnerable neighborhoods and public facilities including schools.

Public engagement has been a core component of the update. The county hosted community open houses and convened a Planning Team composed of county, city, and school representatives to guide the draft. Residents and stakeholders are invited to review the draft plan and appendices on the county website and to submit comments through a community feedback survey that accompanies the posting.

For questions or to provide feedback directly, contact Adam Berry, McKinley County Emergency Manager, or Jon Pairett, City of Gallup Fire Chief, through the county Emergency Management office or the City of Gallup Fire Department. Community input will influence which mitigation actions move forward and which areas receive priority for funding and implementation.