The CSPDC is updating its Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan in collaboration with our local government appointees and community partners. Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters before they happen. Some examples of hazards and threats to consider include flooding, drought, wildfires, extreme temperatures, and critical infrastructure failure. Mitigation plans allow community leaders to:

• Assess its risks and vulnerabilities to natural hazards and man-made threats
• Create strategies to save lives, and reduce damage to properties and infrastructure
• Become more resilient by creating an environment to bounce back more quickly after an incident
• Gain access to State and Federal funding opportunities for pre- and post-event efforts

By completing the Public Input Survey, you will help the CSPDC gain a better understanding of the public’s perspective of how we currently manage the potential hazards and threats in our region. Access the survey here through December 15, 2024: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CSHMP_Survey, or use the QR code below.

For more information, please contact CSPDC Regional Planner Rachel Kinzer at rachel@cspdc.org or (540) 885-5174 ext. 113.

The CSPDC Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP) program, which is administered through the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), is funding a tree and native vegetation planting project for the City of Waynesboro’s South River Preserve Project. The funding will be used to replace five acres of former industrial land and an impervious surface along the South River with native trees and plant species to establish a floodplain, forest, and meadow.

The city completed spring plantings in March and April and will complete the final planting phase this fall. The plantings will improve habitat along the South River and promote infiltration of runoff from the highly compacted soils and is part of a larger effort to improve water quality, protect wildlife habitat, and enhance recreational fishing.

Rich Sagui and Danielle Gannon have been hired to fill open positions at the CSPDC.

Rich Sagui, Accountant

Rich Sagui joined the CSPDC as a Staff Accountant on August 12. He brings 23 years of experience in the accounting profession to the CSPDC. He’s worked for large corporations, nonprofits, and small to medium-sized businesses. He has extensive experience with the general ledger, analyzing financial statements, budgeting, annual audits, month and year-end closes, and creating new and more efficient financial policies and procedures. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Washington in Seattle and then pursued a master’s in business administration and accounting. Originally from Burlington Vermont, he recently relocated to Staunton to be closer to family. He enjoys spending time with family and friends, walking in nature, and practicing yoga and meditation.

Danielle Gannon, Transit Planner

Danielle Gannon joined the CSPDC as our newest Regional/Transit Planner on August 16. She is a recent graduate of San Diego State University, earning her master’s degree in sociology. At SDSU, Danielle worked as a teaching associate for multiple sociology classes and worked on a variety of qualitative and quantitative research projects and initiatives. On one such project, Danielle analyzed migratory patterns and survey responses to examine the relationship between individual and place. Within this analysis, Danielle examined the characteristics that residents value in the places where they reside, which led to a deeper understanding of what individuals need and want from our communities. Through her education at SDSU, as well as her former work and life experiences, Danielle has developed a sociological lens that informs the work she does as a planner, striving to design and sustain equitable and enriching communities that serve the people who live in them. Danielle lives in Staunton and loves to enjoy the outdoors with her dog, Frankie.