A local group charged with updating the county’s hazardous mitigation plan is seeking community input.

Dawson County Emergency Management Director Billy Thurmond said there are several slots open in the group’s six committees, which will meet monthly through the end of the year to develop improvements to the plan.

Counties are required to have a hazardous mitigation plan in place and must update the plan every five years.

“Throughout this year, we’ll have all of our committee and sub-committee meetings to look over the plan we have now to make the upgrades or to take away from the plan if there is something that’s already been taken care of,” Thurmond said.

The goal of the plan is to identify ways to mitigate potential hazards before they happen.

“You can’t prevent a tornado, but you can be prepared for one by having an emergency operation plan and designated shelters,” Thurmond said.

The county contracted Georgia Mountain Regional Commission to help put the plan together through a pass-through grant from the Federal and Georgia emergency management agencies, which must approve the plan.

The plan also requires two public hearings that will be held in November and December.

“Like any public hearing, it gives the public the opportunity to voice any concerns they might see with the plan,” Thurmond said. “It also gives the public the opportunity to understand there is a plan and how that plan is going to be disseminated if needed.”

Any resident interested in serving on the committee is asked to call Thurmond at (706) 344-3675.