In an effort to proactively identify hazards and vulnerabilities and the steps that can be taken to reduce these risks, the Connecticut State Colleges & Universities System (CSCU) has been in the process of developing a Multi-Campus Hazard Mitigation Plan for the past 18 months. Officials at Eastern Connecticut State University are holding a public forum on Feb. 4 at 3 p.m. to present the draft Multi-Campus Hazard Mitigation Plan. As part of this meeting, which will take place at the Student Center in Room 217, a brief presentation will be given.

This plan includes CSCU's four state universities, 12 community colleges, Charter Oak State College and the system office. The purpose of the plan is to assist the campuses in identifying and reducing risks from natural hazards; identify actions that can be taken to prevent damage to property and loss of life; and prioritize funding for mitigation efforts. The plan describes each campus' vulnerability to the various natural hazards that are typically present, along with an array of actions and projects that can be undertaken to reduce key risks. While natural disasters cannot be prevented from occurring, the continued implementation of mitigation strategies identified in the plan will make CSCU campuses more sustainable and disaster-resilient.

Public parking for the Feb. 4 forum is available in the Shakespeare Parking Garage, located adjacent to the Student Center. Members of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team will be available to answer questions and listen to community and stakeholder comments. This meeting is designed as an open house where students, faculty, staff and members of neighboring communities are invited to attend the forum to gather information and provide feedback. A draft of the Multi-Campus Hazard Mitigation Plan can be downloaded from http://www.ct.edu/hmdr.

This project is being funded by a grant allocated by the Connecticut Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.