NORWICH – A consultant was on hand at the Chenango County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday to review the procedures for implementing a $100,000 multi-jurisdictional all-hazard mitigation plan.

In addition to 20 town supervisors, mayors from the following villages were present: Sherburne, Greene, Oxford, New Berlin, Afton and Bainbridge.

The document is designed to help individuals and governmental sectors recover damages from a whole gamut of natural disasters, whether or not the disaster is declared “official” by the federal government. It will demonstrate the county’s overall commitment to reducing risk and serve as a guide for decision makers as they commit resources to minimize the effect of natural hazards.

The Federal Emergency Management Association has such plans a pre-requisite in order to claim damages in the future.

Tetra Tech EM Inc. was hired last month by the county at a cost not to exceed $95,000. County leaders appropriated $23,750 of general surplus funds from the Public Works Department to help cover the expenses, and hope to cover the remainder of the cost with a New York State Emergency Management Office grant and/or federal funds available for pre-disaster mitigation planning.

The New Jersey-based consulting firm recently completed similar plans for Thompkins, Delaware and Broome counties. Chenango’s plan is expected to be finished in six months.

Each jurisdiction will be asked to assign a point person who will provide regional details. FEMA, The New York State Emergency Management Office, Cooperative Extension, Soil & Water Conservation, Army Corps of Engineers and residents will be consulted. The plan is designed to “complement” any emergency management and disaster-related plans already in existence.

“This is intended to be a holistic plan done with cooperation of all people coming together to address potential problems and existing problems,” said Jonathan Raser, the consultant. Sheriff Thomas J. Loughren said the Chenango County Emergency Management Office would oversee the consulting firm.

Ongoing mitigation following the May 2005, June 2006 and October 2006 flooding would not be hindered by the new plan, Raser said. “The document will include all past, present and future problems from natural disasters and take into consideration local ordinances, zoning, home rule, political situations and civil will.”