Hardin County, Iowa is at risk to a wide range of natural and manmade hazards. Some examples include tornadoes, floods, winter storms, dam failures, chemical releases, agricultural disease, and more. In response to these risks, the Hardin County Iowa Emergency Management Commission, in collaboration with JEO Consulting Group, Inc., seeks to better understand how these hazardous events impact the area in order to increase community resilience. To that end, Hardin County Emergency Management updated its multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) in 2023, with the goal of reducing risk to hazards before they happen.

A hazard mitigation plan is a community-guided document that identifies vulnerability to hazards and mitigation projects to reduce or eliminate this vulnerability. Having an approved and updated plan enables your community to be stronger and more resilient by:

1. Reducing your community’s risk and impacts from disasters,

2. Gaining eligibility for pre- and post-disaster mitigation grants, and

3. Building partnerships within your community and across Hardin County.

Residents, communities, schools, fire departments, hospitals, and more from Hardin County were invited to participate in this process by attending meetings and providing information for the plan.

For more information about Hardin County Emergency Management, please visit their website here.

This planning process includes public meetings to provide an opportunity for participants and interested stakeholders to learn about the plan and provide input. In order to be a participant in the plan, FEMA requires at least one representative from your jurisdiction to attend planning meetings.

The Round 1 Risk Assessment Meeting took place on Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at the Hardin County Emergency Operation Center. 

The Round 2 Mitigation Strategy Meeting took place on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.

A Public Survey was also created to better understand the impacts and concerns of stakeholders in Hardin County. The survey was shared it with residents, workers, and business owners throughout the county. The survey was also shared through social media and community websites.

A survey results summary can be viewed below.

The 2023 Hardin County Hazard Mitigation Plan was reviewed and approved by the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The final approved plan is available in the following links:

Hardin County Regional Section

Community Appendix - includes community profiles for the Cities of Ackley, Alden, Buckeye, Eldora, Hubbard, Iowa Falls, New Providence, Radcliffe, Steamboat Rock, Union, and Whitten.

Special Jurisdictions Appendix - includes profiles for AGWSR Schools, BCLUW Schools, Ellsworth Community College, Iowa Falls-Alden Schools, Providence Township Fire District, and South Hardin Schools.

Procedural Appendices

Survey Results Appendix