Pennsylvania Hazard Mitigation Plan Update - Connect The Dots
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Pennsylvania Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Thumbnail Photo of 2023 State Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Cover Sheet for Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Client:

Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA)

Executive Summary:

The Pennsylvania Hazard Mitigation State Planning Team, composed of government agency leaders and other key stakeholders, are working to prepare an update to the existing hazard mitigation plan to guide the Commonwealth towards greater disaster resilience while also respecting the character and needs of local communities. Connect the Dots has been provided strategic advisory services to enable engagement with stakeholders from all levels of government and numerous agencies. This work included developing outreach tools, guides, templates, newsletters, providing strategic guidance for engagement opportunities to ensure inclusive and targeted input, and transforming the final report into an accessible and engaging Executive Summary. Our work on stakeholder engagement tools has been identified and shared as regional best practice by FEMA.

Service Performed:

The outreach and engagement strategy connected to the Hazard Mitigation Plan Update is conducted throughout the planning process and is critical to the strength of the plan. Accordingly, our services have included the following:

  • Develop replicable outreach tools and guides such as for newsletters, calendar invites, outreach materials, and case studies that are accessible and inviting for specialized audiences.
  • Work to expand the list of participants, considering underrepresented groups 
  • Conduct pre-meeting outreach focused on building buy-in for the process via creating opportunities to co-create agendas. 
  • Provide advisory services on tailoring the outreach and interaction methods to better target stakeholder interests in new ways in order to improve collaboration on the plan.
  • Translate Final Report into an accessible and engaging Executive Summary Report

 

Project Outcomes:

Connect the Dots has worked to reimagine the outreach process for stakeholder engagement around hazard mitigation to be more accessible and inviting. This has led to increased participation levels.

  • The innovative templates created to enable a replicable, scalable, and engaging process have been lauded by FEMA as best practice