SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Officials are updating the township's hazard mitigation plan in line with Butler County's updated plan.

The township supervisors Monday said they will likely copy Butler County's plan and adapt it to fit the township.

“We don't have the resources to develop our own,” said supervisor chairman Paul Dickey. “It would be so much more cost-effective and time-effective to just piggyback on the pre-approved county plan.”

A hazard mitigation plan is meant to provide a blueprint for reducing property damage and saving lives from the effects of future natural and human-made disasters in Butler County, according to the 2010 hazardous mitigation plan.

It also qualifies the county for pre-disaster and post-disaster grant funding, complies with state and federal legislative requirements related to local hazard mitigation planning, demonstrates a local commitment to hazard mitigation principles and improves community resiliency following a disaster event, the plan says.

The supervisors didn't take any action on the agenda item Monday. Supervisor vice chairman John Hines has attended county meetings regarding hazardous mitigation planning, and said the county will likely have a plan to work off of later this year.

They have yet to send the plan to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“The county's expired in March, and we wanted it done by September to submit to FEMA with a request to get it approved by the first of the year,” Hines said.