Involve the public throughout the planning process, not just at the end when you have a draft written. If your Tribe has a policy in place for the public review of documents prior to adoption, follow it and incorporate it into the plan development schedule.

• Determine outreach objectives and schedule. Identify what type of input you need from partners and the public, and when you will ask for that input.
• Develop clear and consistent messages that align with community values. Consider your Tribe’s goals and values and how they align with reducing the impacts of future hazards and disasters. Then, personalize talking points for discussions with different audiences and develop messages that appeal to them.
• Conduct outreach early and often, using as many formats and venues as is practical. This will help bring a broader cross section of the community and partners into the planning process.
• Document, evaluate, and incorporate feedback received through outreach activities, such as completed questionnaires and surveys, comments at meetings, and comments on plan. Tell the people you engage with how the planning team will use the feedback to develop the plan.
• Celebrate success! Publicize accomplishments such as receipt of grant funding for mitigation activities or completion of an approvable plan to raise awareness of risk and of hazard mitigation efforts.

Reflection:

You might have multiple outreach strategies, such as one for partners and one for community members. Do you have someone in charge of social media? They could help facilitate outreach and provide guidance on your outreach strategy.