WOODSTOCK, Ill. – McHenry County governments and public safety agencies will be conducting their annual review of the county Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan next month.

The plan exists to assess natural and man-made hazards that may affect local communities, and to identify strategies to reduce their impact. Having a mitigation plan allows local governments to be eligible for Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to help cover mitigation measures to lessen the risk of loss of life and property from future disasters.

The McHenry County Emergency Management Agency will host the review starting at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Regional Training Facility, 655 Village Hall Drive, Cary. A copy of the meeting agenda and the current version of the plan can be found on the EMA's webpage. While the plan is reviewed annually, it is rewritten every five years, with input gleaned from the annual meetings.

The McHenry County EMA’s website, www.mchenryaware.com, offers valuable tips for people to be prepared when disaster strikes and reduce the risks to themselves and their property.