Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2026
Town of Colebrook, Coos County, New Hampshire
The Colebrook, NH Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2026 helps the Town reduce the long-term risk to people and property from natural hazards and other emergencies. It was developed by the Colebrook Hazard Mitigation Planning Team, with input from stakeholders and the public, and with assistance from Mapping and Planning Solutions (MAPS). The Plan updates the Town’s 2021 hazard mitigation plan and also serves as Colebrook’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).
The Plan received final FEMA approval on October 1, 2026 and was adopted by the Town on September 28, 2026.
What is hazard mitigation?
Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. Mitigation can happen before, during, or after an event, but it works best when it is based on a long-term plan developed before a disaster occurs.
Why the Plan matters
Under the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, a community must have a FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan to be eligible for certain federal mitigation grants. Local plans must be reviewed annually and fully updated every five years. Because this Plan is also a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, it may help Colebrook secure state and federal funding for wildfire risk reduction projects.
The 2026 update was funded through a NH Homeland Security and Emergency Management (HSEM) grant under FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program (BRIC 2023).
Approval timeline
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Planning meetings begin | March 7, 2025 |
| Approved Pending Adoption (FEMA) | September 25, 2026 |
| Adopted by the Town | September 28, 2026 |
| FEMA Plan Approval | October 1, 2026 |
| CWPP Approval (NH DNCR) | October 5, 2026 |
| Plan distribution | October 13, 2026 |
The FEMA approval date starts the five-year clock for the next full update. The previous plan was approved January 26, 2021.
Mission
To make Colebrook less vulnerable to the effects of hazards through the effective administration of hazard mitigation planning, wildfire hazard assessments, and a coordinated approach to mitigation policy and planning activities.
Vision
The Town of Colebrook will reduce the impacts of natural hazards and other potential disasters through implementing mitigation measures, public education, and deliberate capital expenditures within the Community. Homes and businesses will be safer, and the Community’s ISO rating may be improved.
Plan goals
The Planning Team adopted the goals of the 2023 New Hampshire State Hazard Mitigation Plan:
- Minimize loss and disruption of human life, property, the environment, and the economy due to natural hazards and high-hazard potential dam failure through coordinated, cost-effective mitigation.
- Enhance the protection of residents and visitors before, during, and after a hazard event through public education about disaster preparedness and resilience.
- Promote comprehensive hazard mitigation planning at the local level to encourage data integration, plan alignment, and identification of funding and other resources.
- Identify how climate change impacts natural hazards and mitigation strategies.
- Strengthen Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government to ensure essential services continue, through training, outreach, and education.
- Promote equity by incorporating whole-community concepts and including vulnerable populations in planning and mitigation projects.
Hazards Colebrook faces
The Planning Team rated each hazard on its likely impact on people, property, and business and on its probability of occurring within 25 years. Multiplying severity by probability produced a relative threat score, which was grouped into risk levels. The Plan’s action items focus on natural hazards; technological and human-caused hazards are included for reference. Coastal flooding, avalanche, and radiological hazards from the State plan were excluded because they do not apply to Colebrook.
Natural hazards
| Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|
| Inland Flooding | Very High |
| Severe Winter Weather | Very High |
| Extreme Temperatures | Very High |
| High Wind Events | Very High |
| Landslides | Very High |
| Infectious Disease | High |
| Dam Failure (Gloriette Dam) | High |
| Dam Failure (Murphy Dam) | Medium |
| Drought | Medium |
| Earthquake | Medium |
| Wildfire | Medium |
| Lightning | Low |
| Tropical and Post-Tropical Cyclones | Very Low |
| Solar Storms and Space Weather | Very Low |
Technological and human-caused hazards
| Hazard | Risk |
|---|---|
| Transport Accidents | Very High |
| Mass Casualty Incidents | Very High |
| Cyber Events | High |
| Long-Term Utility Outage | Medium |
| Hazardous Materials | Medium |
| Terrorism and Violence | Medium |
| Conflagration | Medium |
| Known and Emerging Contaminants | Medium |
| Aging Infrastructure | Low |
Community at a glance
- Land area: about 40.8 square miles, all above 1,000 feet in elevation, which makes the Town vulnerable to ice storms. The highest point is Van Dyck Mountain (2,760 ft).
- Population: 2,084 (2020 Census), down from 2,453 in 1990.
- Housing: about 1,319 housing units, including 283 seasonal or vacant homes.
- Major roads: US Route 3, NH Route 145, and NH Route 26.
- Emergency Operations Center: Town Hall.
- Emergency services: volunteer Fire Department, full-time Police Department, Highway Department, and 45th Parallel EMS, supported by regional mutual aid.
- Hospital: Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital, the Town’s largest employer.
Flooding and flood insurance
Colebrook has participated in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) since May 17, 1989. About 2.12 square miles of the Town are in the 100-year floodplain, mainly along the Connecticut River, the Mohawk River and its branches, Matthews Pond, and the North Branch of Beaver Brook.
The current Flood Insurance Rate Maps are dated February 20, 2013, and development in flood hazard areas is governed by the Colebrook Floodplain Development Ordinance. Flood insurance is available to all Colebrook property owners, whether or not they are in a mapped flood zone. Learn more at FloodSmart.gov (opens in a new tab).
What you can do to prepare
Many of the Plan’s action items depend on residents. Here are steps you can take now:
- Post your E911 house number. Visible address signs help emergency responders find you. Signs are available from 45th Parallel EMS for a donation.
- Sign up for emergency alerts. The State emergency notification system (Genasys, formerly CodeRED) may only have your landline. Add your cell phone, email, and any unlisted numbers.
- Know where to go. The Town’s primary emergency shelter is Colebrook Academy and Elementary School; the secondary shelter is the Congregational Church. The school and the library may open as warming or cooling centers during extended extreme temperatures. Always follow official announcements during an event.
- Reduce wildfire risk around your home. Keep defensible space, and clear dead leaves, needles, and other combustibles from roofs, decks, eaves, porches, and yards. Learn more at Firewise USA (opens in a new tab), and check for red flag days before burning.
- Maintain private roads and driveways so fire trucks and ambulances can reach your property.
- Consider flood insurance and talk with the Town before building or making substantial improvements in a floodplain.
- Protect your household with carbon monoxide alarms, radon testing, and by clearing heavy snow from roofs in high-snow years.
For general preparedness guidance, visit Ready.gov (opens in a new tab).
The Mitigation Action Plan
The Planning Team identified 30 action items, ranked using FEMA’s STAPLEE criteria (social, technical, administrative, political, legal, economic, and environmental) and sorted into four categories based on cost, the Town’s authority to act, and time to complete. Funding availability will largely determine when each item is carried out.
Time frames: Short Term = 2026-2027; Medium Term = 2027-2029; Long Term = 2029-2031; Life of Plan = 2026-2031. Costs: Very Low = staff time only; Low = under $20,000; Medium = $20,000-$100,000; High = $100,000-$1 million; Very High = over $1 million.
Category A: Ongoing actions the Town will continue
| No. | Action | Lead | Time frame | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Continue brush cutting, drainage maintenance, and tree removal; create defensible space around power lines and other infrastructure. | Highway Dept. | Life of Plan | Low |
| 2 | Improve E911 address sign compliance (about 70% today) through public outreach. | EMD and 45th Parallel EMS | Life of Plan | Very Low |
| 3 | Inspect, maintain, and repair hydrants and water sources; add hydrants, fire ponds, or cisterns where water is limited. | Water Dept. and Fire Dept. | Life of Plan | Low |
| 4 | Maintain culverts and ditches and develop a written stormwater maintenance plan and inventory. | Highway Dept. | Life of Plan / Long Term | Low |
| 5 | Provide ongoing training for all emergency responders. | Fire, Police, EMS, and EMD | Life of Plan | Low |
| 6 | Encourage town officials and new responders to complete NIMS and ICS training and learn WebEOC. | EMD | Life of Plan | Very Low |
| 7 | Create an Emergency Management webpage and use social media for preparedness and mitigation information. | EMD, department heads, website administrators | Life of Plan | Low |
| 8 | Educate the public on flood risk, flood insurance, and the Floodplain Ordinance; keep NFIP brochures at the Town Offices. | EMD, Planning Board, website administrators | Life of Plan | Low |
| 9 | Encourage residents to add cell numbers and emails to the emergency alert system. | EMD and website administrators | Life of Plan | Low |
| 10 | Share Firewise information and red flag burn-day notices; provide brochures with burn permits. | EMD, Fire Chief, website administrators | Life of Plan | Very Low |
| 11 | Publicize the school and library as warming and cooling centers. | EMD and website administrators | Life of Plan | Very Low |
| 12 | Educate residents on maintaining private roads for emergency vehicle access. | EMD and website administrators | Life of Plan | Low |
Category B: Town-controlled actions, generally within one year
| No. | Action | Lead | Time frame | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Obtain approval of this Plan as a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). | MAPS | Short Term | Very Low |
| 14 | Replace the red-listed Harvey Swell Bridge (project awarded; work began August 2026). | Highway Dept. | Short Term | High |
| 15 | Complete annual reviews of the Plan and a full update in five years. | EMD | Short and Long Term | Low |
| 16 | Recommend that the hospital install a water tank to continue operations if the pump station fails. | Water Dept. | Short Term | Very Low |
Category C: Actions needing outside funding or partners, 13 to 36 months
| No. | Action | Lead | Time frame | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Rehabilitate the red-listed Pleasant Street Bridge (design underway for 2027). | Highway Dept. | Medium Term | Medium |
| 18 | Consider adding natural hazards, climate change, and mitigation items to the Master Plan update. | Planning Board | Medium Term | Low |
| 19 | Update the Emergency Operations Plan to the State’s 18-ESF format. | EMD | Medium Term | Low |
| 20 | Fund and obtain generators for water and sewer facilities. | Water Dept. | Medium Term | Very Low |
| 21 | Inspect town facilities and install lightning rods where recommended. | EMD and Fire Dept. | Medium Term | Low |
| 22 | Review subdivision, zoning, and site plan regulations, including steep slopes and firefighting water supply. | Planning Board | Medium Term | Very Low |
| 23 | Obtain funding for a fire danger sign in Colebrook, possibly along Route 3. | Fire Dept. | Medium Term | Low |
| 24 | Complete the State-required backup water system. | Water Dept. | Medium Term | Very High |
| 25 | Install dry hydrants at Carlton Hill Bridge, Bungy Road Bridge, and the top of Aldrich Road if still needed. | Fire Dept. | Medium Term | Low |
| 26 | Hold a Murphy Dam tabletop exercise with the dam operator, NH DES, and neighboring towns; develop a backup notification system. | EMD | Medium Term | Very Low |
Category D: Major projects needing significant funding, more than 37 months
| No. | Action | Lead | Time frame | Est. cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | Secure the sewer lagoon banks, install a headworks system if appropriate, and mitigate the impact of a Murphy Dam failure. | Sewer Dept. | Long Term | Very High |
| 28 | Upgrade the Edwards, North Main, Bill Bromage, and Main sewage pumping stations. | Sewer Dept. | Long Term | Very High |
| 29 | Identify a location and funding for a new Police Station. | Police Chief and Select Board | Long Term | Very High |
| 30 | Develop an engineering study to separate the sewer and stormwater systems, as required by the State. | Sewer Dept. | Long Term | Very High |
Progress since the 2021 plan
Colebrook has completed many projects since its last plan, including:
- Obtaining an Emergency Action Plan for the Gloriette Dam
- Upgrading the Colby Street sewage pumping station
- Replacing the Bear Rock Bridge
- Installing a generator at the main water station
- Providing ongoing fire and flood education
Items not yet finished were carried forward into the new Action Plan.
Keeping the Plan current
The Emergency Management Director will convene the responsible town departments each year on the anniversary of the Plan’s adoption, and after significant hazard events, to review progress and report to the Select Board. Meeting agendas will be posted at the Town Hall.
Recommendations from the Plan will be considered in updates to the Master Plan, the Emergency Operations Plan, the Town budget and Capital Reserve Funds, and the Town’s ordinances and regulations. A full update is due before the fifth anniversary of approval.
Comments and questions about the Plan may be directed in writing or by email to the Colebrook Emergency Management Director.
Acknowledgments
The Town of Colebrook thanks the members of the Hazard Mitigation Planning Team for their time and expertise, and thanks FEMA and NH HSEM as the primary funding sources for the Plan.
Hazard Mitigation Planning Team members
- David Woodard, Fire Chief
- Paul Rella, Police Chief
- Jacqueline Thayer, Emergency Management Director and Health Officer
- Tim Stevens, Town Manager
- Ray Gorman, Select Board
- Heidi Lawton, Administrative Assistant
- Melanie Fogg, Financial Officer
- Dottie Uran, Assessing Clerk
- TJ Rossitto, Road Agent
- Daniel Lyons, Highway Foreman
- Mike Worters, Water and Sewer Operator
- Brian Sullivan, Water and Sewer
- David Brooks, Landfill Operator
- Becky Robinson, Dispatch Supervisor
- Melissa Shaw, Recreation Director
- Matt Koehler, Eversource
- Tim Purrington, Great River Hydro
- Nick Marois, North Country Health Care
- Steven Legge, North Country Healthcare
- Bill Everleth, Upper Connecticut Valley Hospital
- Zina Schmidt, North Country Regional Public Health Network
- Lynne Ryan, NH HSEM State Hazard Mitigation Planner
- June Garneau and Olin Garneau, Mapping and Planning Solutions
Read the complete Plan
The full Plan includes the community profile, historic hazard events, critical facilities, detailed hazard descriptions, the capabilities assessment, the STAPLEE analysis, and approval documents.