Putnam seeks public input on climate resilience plan 

Putnam County officials are asking residents to weigh in on a proposed plan designed to help local communities prepare for flooding, extreme heat, severe storms and other climate-related hazards. 

The county has released the final draft of its Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Plan, or CCARP, and opened a public comment period that will continue through Sept. 15. Residents, businesses, community organizations, and people who work in Putnam County are invited to review the plan and submit feedback before it is finalized.  

The draft can be reviewed on the county's Climate Change Adaptation & Resilience Plan webpage. A printed copy is also available at the Putnam County Planning Department, 841 Fair St., Carmel, during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  

The county is providing several ways for the public to participate. Comments can be emailed to climatesmart@putnamcountyny.gov, mailed to the Putnam County Planning Department, 841 Fair St., Carmel, NY 10512, or submitted through the online public comment survey available on the CCARP webpage. The Planning Department can also be reached at 845-878-3480.  

According to county officials, public and stakeholder input has already played a role in developing the plan, including through a Climate Vulnerability Assessment Survey conducted during the winter of 2025-26 and a Draft Vision Statement Survey that ran from November 2025 through April. The county is seeking another round of public feedback before moving toward adoption of the plan, currently targeted for October.  

The CCARP was developed by Putnam County in partnership with the Hudson Valley Regional Council and is fully funded through the state Department of Environmental Conservation's Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Services Program.  

County officials say the planning effort is intended to address Putnam's vulnerability to hazards including flooding, extreme heat and severe storms while identifying ways to protect communities, infrastructure, ecosystems and other important local assets. 

The draft is divided into four main sections. A "Place Narrative" provides background on Putnam County's population, economy, ecosystems and history of severe weather. A Climate Vulnerability Assessment examines risks to important assets and services from long-term changes in weather and climate patterns. The document also contains a countywide resilience vision statement, and a Climate Adaptation Plan outlining recommended strategies and actions to address the vulnerabilities identified in the assessment.  

The county's vision calls for preparing for and adapting to current and potential climate threats while strengthening resilience, protecting communities, livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems and natural resources, and paying particular attention to residents considered most vulnerable to climate-related impacts. 

Putnam County became a registered participant in New York's Climate Smart Communities program in 2019 and earned bronze certification in 2024. The state program assists local governments with efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prepare for the effects of a changing climate.  

The current public comment period represents one of the final steps in the CCARP process. The county's project schedule calls for comments to close Sept. 15, followed by anticipated adoption of the plan in October.  

Residents interested in participating can review the complete draft and access the public comment survey through the Putnam County CCARP page.