The Dallas County Local Emergency Planning Committee will put the final stamp of approval on its updated hazard mitigation plan next week.

The LEPC will meet Thursday, April 2 at 10 a.m. in the Dallas County Commission Courtroom to present the updated plan to its members and the public.

While no major adjustments were made, Dallas County EMA Director Rhonda Johnson said it gives the committee a chance to review its plan and make changes if they are needed.

“It gives us an opportunity to take [the plan] section by section and read it to just make sure that everything is covered in that plan,” Johnson said.

By law, they are required to update the plan every five years.

The plan is designed to help local governments develop a strategy to decrease losses caused by a disaster and cut back on repeated damage.

Johnson said the plan helps EMA and first responders identify hazards in the area and how they can prevent damage from them when they do occur.

“In this plan we detail what we will do with hazard mitigation grant funding money,” Johnson said. “After a disaster occurs, if it is declared one, our county is eligible for hazard mitigation funds. Those funds will revert back to our plan, and we identify what we can use those funds for.”

In the past, Johnson said the funds have been used to purchase tornado sirens and community storm shelters, but there is a number of items the money can be used for.

The LEPC, which is made up of first responders and the general public, helps decide what the plan for Dallas County needs and doesn’t need.

“Everybody should be able to voice their opinions about what we do, how we do it and what needs to be put in these plans,” Johnson said. “It is very important that all of our first responders have input and knowledge of what this emergency preparedness plan or the hazard mitigation plan is so that they can do what they need to do as well.

Johnson encourages the public to attend.

“We try to take everybody’s plans and mesh them into one, so if we’re ever called upon on a large scale, everybody will be able to function and it be organized,” Johnson said. “I always encourage public input.”