Hamilton County Seeks Input on Emergency Planning Survey

TL;DR: Hamilton County, Ohio wants anyone who lives or works in the county to complete a confidential 10-minute preparedness survey by Sept. 21 at hcema.org/Survey2026 to guide emergency planning decisions and the county's 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

Hamilton County residents have an opportunity to influence how local officials prepare for disasters, from flooding and power outages to evacuation planning. That opportunity is the preparedness survey opened for National Preparedness Month by the Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer report titled Hamilton County seeks input on emergency planning, the survey responses will help identify community needs before, during and after emergencies. The report was published Sept. 2, 2026, at 4:06 p.m. ET by Jane Imbody.

What Hamilton County announced on Sept. 2

The Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency is seeking public feedback through a preparedness survey. The survey will help guide emergency planning decisions. The survey will also help guide development of the county's 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The announcement was described in a community announcement referenced in the Cincinnati Enquirer coverage. Officials say the responses will help identify community needs before, during and after emergencies.

The hazards named in the announcement include flooding and power outages. The announcement also names evacuation planning as a subject for public influence. Flash flooding is named as a community concern addressed in the survey. The agency coordinating the effort is identified as Hamilton County Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. The agency is also identified by the abbreviation Hamilton County EMHSA.

Why the 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan needs resident input

The 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan is the county planning document that the survey will help guide. Emergency planning decisions beyond that plan will also be guided by the survey. The survey asks residents to share thoughts on hazards faced in Hamilton County. The survey also asks residents to share thoughts on services they may need in an emergency.

Ryan McEwan is the Hamilton County EMHSA assistant director quoted about the purpose. McEwan said the survey is an opportunity for residents to share thoughts on hazards and emergency services. According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, McEwan said, "This survey is an important opportunity for the residents of Hamilton County to share their thoughts on the hazards we face and the services they may need in an emergency." McEwan also described how feedback moves to local decision makers. McEwan said the agency shares feedback with local jurisdictions.

How feedback reaches elected leaders

The agency shares feedback with local jurisdictions after collecting survey responses. Elected leaders use that shared feedback to make decisions. Those decisions concern public risk perception. Those decisions also concern mitigation priorities.

That flow makes the survey more than an opinion poll for the 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. A response about household readiness becomes part of information shared with local jurisdictions. A response about evacuation needs becomes part of information used about mitigation priorities. A response about flash flooding becomes part of information used about public risk perception.

Who can take the confidential survey

The confidential survey is open to anyone who lives in Hamilton County. The confidential survey is also open to anyone who works in Hamilton County. Residency alone is not required when employment in the county qualifies a participant. Employment alone is not presented as secondary when residency in the county also qualifies a participant.

The survey is described as confidential for participants who live or work in the county. Confidential participation applies to online responses at hcema.org/Survey2026. Confidential participation also applies through the paper-copy process using agency contact information. A separate post from Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services also describes the effort as a confidential survey and directs participants to complete it by Sept. 21.

What the survey asks about household readiness

Sample questions focus on how prepared households are for emergencies. Sample questions also focus on evacuation needs. Sample questions also focus on community concerns about hazards such as flash flooding. Participants are also asked how Hamilton County can better help residents prepare for disasters.

One example asks whether a household could manage for at least three days without electricity. The same example also asks whether a household could manage for at least three days without running water. Another example asks whether anyone in the home would require special assistance during an evacuation. Those examples connect utilities, household capability, and evacuation support in the same survey.

What the disability community post adds

September is National Preparedness Month, a time described as an occasion to consider readiness and community needs. That description comes from the Sept. 1 post by Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services about the Hamilton County, Ohio Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency survey. According to that Hamilton County Developmental Disabilities Services post, community feedback can help identify priorities for emergency planning. The same post says feedback can help identify priorities including the needs of people with disabilities. The same post also says feedback can help identify priorities including others who may face additional challenges during an emergency.

The post directs residents to take the confidential survey by Sept. 21. The deadline in that post matches the Sept. 21 availability date reported Sept. 2. The agency named in that post is the Hamilton County, Ohio Emergency Management & Homeland Security Agency. The planning use named in that post is identification of priorities for emergency planning.

How to participate by Sept. 21

The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. The survey is available through Sept. 21. Residents and workers can participate online at hcema.org/Survey2026. The online address uses hcema.org with Survey2026 as the path.

Those who prefer a paper copy can contact Hamilton County EMHSA by email. The email address for a paper copy is [email protected]. Those who prefer a paper copy can also contact Hamilton County EMHSA by phone. The phone number for a paper copy is 513-946-8000.

More information about county coordination is available at hamiltoncountyohio.gov. The agency coordinating county disaster preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation efforts is Hamilton County EMHSA. The preparedness survey is part of National Preparedness Month activities.

What National Preparedness Month means for timing

The preparedness survey is part of National Preparedness Month activities. September is identified as National Preparedness Month in the Sept. 1 disability-services post. The Sept. 2 report places the survey availability through Sept. 21 within that month. The 10-minute time estimate places participation within a short single session during that month.

National Preparedness Month timing connects the survey to county disaster preparedness. The same timing connects the survey to county disaster response. The same timing also connects the survey to county disaster recovery and mitigation efforts coordinated by Hamilton County EMHSA.

What preppers should log before answering

A household answering the survey will face the three-day question without electricity or running water. Review stored water with that three-day example in mind. Review lighting, cooking, and sanitation options with that loss of electricity in mind. Review household capability with that loss of running water in mind.

A household answering the survey will also face the evacuation-assistance question. List anyone in the home who would require special assistance during an evacuation. Note mobility, medical, communication, and transportation needs that affect evacuation planning. Note how Hamilton County could better help residents prepare when answering that section.

A household answering the survey will also face questions about flash flooding and other hazards. Note community concerns about hazards such as flash flooding before starting the 10-minute survey. Note household preparedness for flooding and power outages before starting the survey. Note evacuation planning needs for the household before starting the survey at hcema.org/Survey2026.

Why local answers shape local mitigation

Mitigation priorities used by elected leaders depend partly on feedback shared with local jurisdictions. Public risk perception used by elected leaders depends partly on the same feedback. Community needs before, during and after emergencies shape both uses.

A completed response by Sept. 21 becomes part of the record guiding the 2028 Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. A completed response through hcema.org/Survey2026 becomes part of the record guiding emergency planning decisions. A paper-copy request through [email protected] or 513-946-8000 provides the same participation path for residents and workers who prefer paper.