Wareham secures $50K grant for disaster planning

With past storms rocking Wareham, the town has been awarded $50,000 through the Municipal and Tribal Technical Assistance grant program to update its Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan gives money to state, tribal and local governments after a presidentially declared disaster to help pay for projects that protect people and property from future natural disasters. 

The funding, will allow the town to hire a qualified vendor to assist with revising the plan, which is set to expire in 2027. Updating the plan will help Wareham better identify risks and prepare for future hazards.

The program provides direct technical support to towns like Wareham pursuing federal funding for infrastructure, climate and economic development. State Rep. John R. Gaskey said the funding comes at a critical time for the town.

“With the expansion of housing, especially lower income housing, it is important Wareham is able to continue to explore and predict future hazards and prepare properly,” Gaskey said. “February’s blizzard response is a prime example of why this is so important.”