Last chance for residents to weigh in on Madera’s disaster preparedness plan

When summer temperatures climb into the triple digits across the Central Valley, the impacts reach far beyond discomfort. Power demand rises, outdoor work becomes dangerous, and vulnerable residents face serious health risks. Extreme heat, along with flooding, drought, and wildfire, is one of several natural hazards that communities across California must plan for long before emergencies occur.

In Madera County, that preparation is nearing completion.

Local officials have spent the past year developing the 2026 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), a countywide roadmap for identifying natural disaster risks and reducing their long-term impact on residents, infrastructure, and local services. The plan, led by the Madera County Office of Emergency Services in partnership with the cities of Madera and Chowchilla, analyzes the hazards most likely to affect the region and outlines strategies to strengthen community resilience.

With the plan now entering its final review phase, officials are encouraging residents to take part. The public comment period has been extended through March 27, 2026 at 5:00 p.m., giving community members additional time to review the document and share feedback before it moves toward final adoption.

Hazard mitigation planning focuses on reducing damage before disasters occur. By studying past events, infrastructure vulnerabilities, and community development patterns, the plan identifies projects and strategies that can help limit future losses. Maintaining an approved plan also keeps local governments eligible for certain federal mitigation grants that support preventative infrastructure and resilience projects.

County officials say community insight is an important part of the process. Residents often have firsthand knowledge of areas that flood during heavy storms, neighborhoods prone to power outages, or other local conditions that may not appear in official data.

To encourage participation, the Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services will host several virtual outreach sessions via Zoom where residents can ask questions and provide feedback directly to staff. The remaining sessions are scheduled for March 12, March 13, March 17, and March 25.

For more information about the upcoming meetings or to view the full plan, visit www.madera.gov/lhmp.

Printed reference copies are also available at all Madera County Public Library branches, including locations in Madera, Chowchilla, Madera Ranchos, North Fork, and Oakhurst.

Residents may submit comments by email, mail, or by participating in one of the virtual outreach sessions before the March 27 deadline.