DEERFIELD — A listening session on the Deerfield Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan is slated for the Deerfield Town Offices at 6 p.m. on Sept. 26.
Deerfield developed an plan to assess its vulnerabilities and strengths in handling severe weather, which are expected to become more frequent with climate change. The completed plan allowed Deerfield to become a state-certified MVP community, making it eligible for additional state grants to implement the plan’s recommended actions. Deerfield has already received additional grant money this year to design a replacement for a problematic Mill Village Road culvert.
This session will give residents the opportunity to hear about the MVP Plan, to make suggestions for additions or changes to the plan, and to consider targets for additional state grant money to implement projects to reduce the town’s vulnerability to severe weather.
Responding to federal policy changes since President Donald Trump took office in January 2017, Selectboard member Carolyn Shores Ness in January said the town must actively invest in preparing for — as opposed to reacting to — storms and more subtle threats like the advance of insect-borne diseases. A Deerfield Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Workshop was held to increase the likelihood of getting state money due to natural disasters and severe weather. That workshop was run by Ness and representatives from the consulting firm Conservations Works.
Receiving state money through this program enables Deerfield to circumvent a lack of potential federal funding for natural disasters and weather-related emergencies. It could also expedite receiving funding in general.