SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (WWLP) - Communities in our region want to be resilient to natural hazards and impacts of climate change. The town of South Hadley is creating a plan to do just that. The town of South Hadley has been working with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission to create this plan to go before MEMA and FEMA for approval. "When we had that October snowstorm, we did a great job trying to keep the town moving during that crisis," says one town selectman. The town of South Hadley wants to reduce the damage to its community caused by extreme weather events. Western Massachusetts is no stranger to severe storms and floods--as well as heat waves and droughts--- most recently causing a rash of wildfires across the region. South Hadley town officials---wrapping up their final meeting to update the 'hazard mitigation plan' which will make them eligible for FEMA funding. Senior Land Use and Environment Planner for the Commission Mimi Kaplan told 22News, "The plan goes over what the natural hazards are---climate change impact that potentially impacts South Hadley-assesses the risks---the town's vulnerabilities." This assessment also highlights the impacts of climate change on the Connecticut River Valley--some of those impacts include a threat to food security, even damage to the electrical infrastructure which could be very costly for a town. The plan's overall goal is to prevent future losses and save money when disasters happen, whether it's by building up infrastructure or bolstering emergency communications. "I think people are becoming more aware and concerned about how to prepare for these events," Kaplan adds. Next, the plan will go before MEMA for review before being submitted to FEMA. Once it's approved, South Hadley will have a hazard mitigation plan set for the next five years. Local News Headlines AIC Baseball donates meals to families in need South Hadley develops plan for climate resilience Driver arraigned in crash that killed Endicott Police sergeant Tips to prevent porch pirates this holiday season WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.