To get involved, you need to find out when the local planning and zoning board meets and the projects they are reviewing. Meetings for these groups are open to the public and it is your right to attend and participate. Without community input the planning and zoning boards are missing a big part of the information needed in making land use decisions. Citizen planners are those citizens who take an even greater role in the process and volunteer to serve on committees working with the local government in developing the plan, as well as those who sit on decision making boards and commissions. The businesses in my community will also suffer when storms or earthquakes hit.
Businesses are citizens, too, and can participate in the planning process.
Once potential losses to business facilities, inventory, supply links or customer base are made clear to businesses in the community, they are often quite willing to participate in planning decisions. Protecting the local area from natural hazard losses is in the best interest of businesses with a stake in the community.