Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan

In response to increasing challenges presented by climate change, the Select Board engaged with the state’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program to complete a vulnerability assessment and develop an action-oriented resiliency plan. Communities who complete the MVP program become certified as an MVP community and are eligible for MVP Action Grant funding and other opportunities.

Addressing concerns previously outlined in our federal Hazard Mitigation Plan, the team has developed projects focused on mitigating and adapting to excessive flooding, threats to public safety from fallen trees, and extreme cold and heat events.

The attached draft Summary of Findings will be presented to the community for feedback at a Community Listening Night on March 19th, from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Town Hall.

Residents can also provide feedback by reviewing and completing a brief online survey instead: https://bit.ly/wasmvpsurvey. Paper surveys are available at the Town Hall and the Becket Athenaeum.

The MVP Planning team consists of Kent Lew, David Ellis, Tom Johnson, Rika Alper, and Sean Curran. The team received considerable planning assistance from Britney Danials and Courteny Morehouse of Berkshire Regional Planning Commission through the MVP Planning grant.