Hazard Mitigation Plan (2025 Update)

Natural hazards, such as winter storms, thunderstorms, floods, and landslides, are a part of the world around us. Their occurrence is natural and inevitable, and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity. We must consider these hazards to be legitimate and significant threats to human life, safety, and property.

The South Mountains Region is located in the western part of North Carolina and includes Henderson, Polk, Rutherford, and Transylvania Counties and the municipal governments within the counties. This area is vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards such as winter storms, thunderstorms, floods, and landslides. It is also vulnerable to human-caused hazards, including hazardous material spills. These hazards threaten the life and safety of residents in the South Mountains Region and have the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property, disrupt the local economy, and impact the overall quality of life of individuals who live, work, and vacation in the region.

These communities partnered in 2020 to create a regional Hazard Mitigation Plan.  For additional information feel free to download the plan below.