On September 13, 2021, the North Andover Select Board took a major step toward climate resiliency as they voted to adopt the Town of North Andover Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan September 2021. The document was also approved by the Federal and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agencies (FEMA and MEMA). The work was completed with grant funding from the state Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program which provides support for cities and towns in Massachusetts to begin the process of planning for climate change resiliency and implementing priority projects. North Andover was awarded additional funding to update their local hazard mitigation plan (HMP) to incorporate climate change and make the community eligible for future FEMA funding.

Town Staff worked with community stakeholders and the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission (MVPC) to complete this planning process virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic using a new StoryMap presentation process that was both innovative and interactive. A link to North Andover’s MVP StoryMap can be found HERE.

Following completion of the MVP/HMP planning process, North Andover is eligible to apply for competitive action grants to implement priority projects. More information about the MVP Program can be found at this LINK. Congratulations to North Andover in completing this work and becoming eligible for grant funding to make the community more resilient to climate change.

Click here to view the Town’s new Multi-Hazard Mitigation and Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan, which resulted from this planning process

Check out more of MVPC’s environmental program initiatives centered around hazard resiliency here.