City of Medford Invites Public Comment on Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan

The City of Medford is seeking community input on its Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP), which identifies potential natural hazards, assesses risks, and outlines strategies for making Medford safer and more resilient in the face of climate change and extreme weather, announced Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn. 

Hazard Mitigation Plans are required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for cities and towns to be eligible for federal funding that supports risk education and disaster recovery. 

The updated plan builds on extensive community input to ensure strategies reflect the lived experiences and priorities of Medford residents. A wide range of community stakeholders were engaged in this process, including residents, community-based organizations, businesses, and local constituency groups across Medford.  

“Community voices are essential to making this plan effective,” said MaryAnn O’Connor, Health Department Director and Emergency Manager. “The draft reflects the ideas and concerns we heard during the community engagement process, and now we want to hear even more perspectives through this comment period.” 

Mayor Lungo-Koehn emphasized that the plan was and continues to be developed hand-in-hand with Medford residents. “This Hazard Mitigation Plan is about protecting our community, our homes, and our future,” said Mayor Lungo-Koehn. “It reflects diverse voices and the coordinated efforts of our departments – the Department of Public Works; Planning, Development & Sustainability; Emergency Response; and the Board of Health – working together to keep Medford safe.” 

Carolyne Guffey, Executive Director of Walnut Street Center, Inc. – which participated in the HMP community engagement sessions – noted the value of this inclusive approach. "Walnut Street Center was pleased to contribute to Medford’s Hazard Mitigation Plan,” she said. “Inviting perspectives from community members with different backgrounds and lived experiences is essential to keeping our community safe for everyone. We encourage our neighbors to review the draft and submit comments." 

The City invites all community members to review the draft plan online at medfordma.org/hmp. Hard copies of the executive summary are available at Medford City Hall (Room 205), the Medford Public Library, the Medford Senior Center, and the Medford Housing Authority.  

Comments may be submitted online via the feedback form through Friday, November 7, 2025. 

Following the public comment period, the City will incorporate community feedback before being presented at a public meeting with the Medford City Council on December 2, 2025. The final version will be sent to the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and FEMA for approval.  

With any questions, contact Health Department Director and Emergency Manager MaryAnn O’Connor at moconnor@medford-ma.gov.  

About Hazard Mitigation Planning: Hazard Mitigation Planning (HMP) aims to reduce loss of life and property, breaking the cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction. HMP achieves this by first identifying risks and vulnerabilities, then developing long-term protective strategies against them. FEMA requires an HMP update every five years for cities to qualify for federal disaster aid.