2026 All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update
The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) was funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) to work with Middle Peninsula localities (Essex, Gloucester, King & Queen, King William, Mathews and Middlesex Counties and the Towns of Urbanna, Tappahannock, and West Point) to update the Final Amended 2021 Middle Peninsula All Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP). The Plan evaluates all hazards that may affect the region and proposes mitigation strategies to reduce the impacts of future hazardous events.
Below is the 2026 Plan Updated timeline:
- Implementation Meeting/Grant Award- October 2024
- Organize Resource- October 2024 to April 2025
- Community Assessment/Profile- April to October 2025
- Revise Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment- April to October 2025
- Revise Mitigation Plan- April to October 2025
- Public Outreach and Education- May 2025 to November 2025
- Draft AHMP submitted VDEM for review – November 2025
- Draft AHMP submitted to for FEMA Approval – January 2026
- Locality Adoption and Implementation- February to March 2026
- Project Closeout with VDEM- April to September 2026
The project includes the following components:
- Planning Process
- Risk Assessment
- Hazard Mitigation Strategy
- Hazard Mitigation Plan Maintenance Process
- Hazard Mitigation Plan Adoption and Approval
Please check back to this page for regular project updates, including Local Planning Team meeting presentations and information sheets, and requests for public input.
Public Input Needed: Middle Peninsula All Hazards Mitigation Plan Update
The Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission (MPPDC) is seeking public input to help shape the region’s 2026 All Hazards Mitigation Plan (AHMP). Residents are encouraged to take the brief 10-minute survey and share their perspectives on hazards facing the Middle Peninsula and strategies for reducing risks and impacts.
The survey is anonymous, and results will be incorporated into the updated plan, which serves as a roadmap for strengthening community resilience against future disasters.
Responses are due by October 15, 2025.
“Community input is critical to ensuring this plan reflects the realities and concerns of the people who live and work here,” said Rachael Peabody, Acting Executive Director for the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission. “By participating, residents can directly influence how we prepare for and respond to hazards in the years ahead.”
What the Survey Covers
Participants are asked a few demographic questions to identify what locality they live in, how they personally prepare for hazards and if they have experienced damage related to weather hazards.
Other questions ask for opinions on their level of concern over hazards that could impact the region over the next 20 years, including, but not limited to winter storms, hurricanes and high winds, flooding and sea level rise, communicable diseases, earthquakes, and more.
The survey also seeks feedback on, among other topics, how local and regional governments should prepare for these events and asks individuals to reflect on their own readiness and planning.
Why It Matters
The All Hazards Mitigation Plan is required for localities to remain eligible for certain types of state and federal disaster funding. More importantly, it helps communities reduce risks before disaster strikes—saving lives, property and resources.
How to Participate
Take the survey today at: surveymonkey.com/r/9MC32G7.
All responses will remain confidential and will be summarized in the 2026 AHMP update.
For more information about the Middle Peninsula Planning District Commission and its regional resilience initiatives, visit mppdc.com.