BERKELEY TOWNSHIP – In order to better understand hazard mitigation grant opportunities, the Ocean County Sheriff's Office, Office of Emergency Management invites participation from the public to the third public workshop as part of the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The 90-minute hybrid public workshop is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. Monday, Oct. 28. People can attend in-person at the Ocean County Office of Emergency Management, at the Robert J. Miller Airpark, Route 530, here.

To register for the workshop virtually, the public can visit the Ocean County website at www.co.ocean.nj.us and click on the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan tab on the home page and follow the instructions to register.

Topics for discussion during the workshop include:
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Grant Programs
• New Jersey Office of Emergency Management grant assistance
• Mitigation partnerships
• Plan integration opportunities

"The Hazard Mitigation Plan team is engaging with the public through this workshop to better understand hazard mitigation grant opportunities," said Deputy Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioners Gary Quinn, liaison to the Ocean County Sheriff's Office. "We are required to update the Hazard Mitigation plan every five years so communities in Ocean County are eligible for certain types of state and federal disaster relief funds following a disaster."

Director of the Ocean County Board of Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea urged Ocean County citizens to participate in the workshops.

"Whether you attend in person or join the discussion virtually, it's important we hear from you," she said. "There is also an opportunity to participate by accessing the information on the County website."

For questions about the plan or the public workshop please contact Brittany Dremluk, Consultant Project Manager at Michael Baker International, Inc. by emailing brittany.dremluk@mbakerintl.com or calling 609-807-9556, or Allen J. Mantz, Jr., Radiological Officer, Acting Domestic Preparedness Planner, Ocean County Sheriff's Office at amantz@co.ocean.nj.us or calling 732-341-3451, Ext. 6120.

To review the 2020 Ocean County HMP or learn more about hazard mitigation planning, please visit the Ocean County Hazard Mitigation Planning webpage at www.co.ocean.nj.us.

To register for the virtual workshop, the link is: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/3d0d45b6-6f30-43ef-bf10-fbdad35023e4@4e1ee3db-4df6-4142-b7b9-bec15f171ca4