Natural Hazards Community Survey North Andover

North Andover opened an online Natural Hazards Community Survey on June 1 as part of a standard update to the town’s Hazard Mitigation Plan, according to a town news post. The town said it is collecting feedback from residents about the impacts of natural hazards in the community. The survey is anonymous, and the town said responses will be used by its Hazard Mitigation Planning team to assess risk and improve resilience to natural hazards. The town’s June 1 notice said the survey will remain open until June 22, 2026. ### What is North Andover asking residents to do this week? The June 1 town notice asks residents to complete the Natural Hazards Community Survey online and share their experiences with natural hazard events in North Andover. The town said the survey is part of the process for updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan. North Andover’s official website says the town is “currently completing a standard update” of that plan and is seeking community feedback on the impacts of natural hazards. (northandoverma.gov) The same notice says all responses will be compiled for the Hazard Mitigation Planning team. ### What will the town do with the responses? Town officials said survey responses will be used to assess risk and improve resiliency to natural hazards. (northandoverma.gov) The June 1 posting does not list a target number of responses or break out specific hazard categories in the public summary, but it says residents’ experiences will feed into the planning update. North Andover’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness and Hazard Mitigation page says the town’s planning work is designed to define climate-related hazards, identify vulnerabilities and strengths, and develop actions to reduce risk and build resilience. (northandoverma.gov) That page says North Andover received planning assistance through the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness grant program and worked with the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission on earlier planning. ### Why is North Andover updating a hazard mitigation plan now? North Andover’s website describes the current work as a standard update to the Hazard Mitigation Plan. FEMA says local governments use hazard mitigation plans to understand natural hazards and develop mitigation strategies, and communities with current plans are eligible for certain non-emergency FEMA grants. A previous North Andover hazard mitigation and municipal vulnerability planning effort produced a multi-hazard mitigation and municipal vulnerability preparedness plan after a 2020 grant-supported process, according to the town’s planning page. (northandoverma.gov) The current survey indicates the town is now in another update cycle and is gathering fresh public input. (northandoverma.gov) ### Where can residents take the survey or get a paper copy? The June 1 notice lists an online survey link hosted through the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission application portal. The same notice says residents who prefer paper can pick up hard copies at Town Hall, Stevens Memorial Library and the North Andover Senior Center. The town’s homepage carries the same message, saying residents can complete an anonymous survey to share their experiences with natural hazard events in the community. (northandoverma.gov) ### What kinds of issues does this planning process cover? North Andover’s Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness page says the planning process is intended to define climate-related hazards, identify current and future vulnerabilities, and prioritize actions that reduce risk. (northandoverma.gov) A 2021 state-posted North Andover planning document said the town’s earlier process examined hazards associated with natural disasters and climate change and identified vulnerable locations, populations and facilities. The June 1 survey notice does not itself enumerate every hazard under review, but it frames the request around residents’ experiences with natural hazard events in North Andover. ### When is the deadline? North Andover said on June 1 that the survey is open until June 22, 2026. The town’s notice says residents can participate online now or use a paper form available at three town locations before that deadline. (northandoverma.gov) (northandoverma.gov)