NORFOLK - Selectmen received an overview Monday of the town's disaster mitigation plan, which must be developed to meet Federal Emergency Management Agency grant requirements.

Disaster mitigation is not a disaster-response plan, which the town already has in place, but a compilation of projects to prevent and reduce potential damage caused by natural disasters such as hurricanes, brush fires, high winds and flooding.

"Let's see what we can do before the event happens," said Brad Stoler, a representative of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, which is working with the town to develop a plan.

The plan involves mapping out critical facilities, assessing hazard risk, reviewing existing mitigation and proposed mitigation, and planning maintenance.

Stoler worked with Fire Chief Edward Senter and Town Administrator Jack Hathaway to identify high priority flood locations, along with other potential risks. Topping the project list is the public safety building, which regularly floods because of overflow from a nearby pond and rain collecting on the flat roof.

Stoler said that when the overflow overwhelms the building's pump, causing flooding and septic backup, it costs the town $1,200 in clean-up costs. Moving the septic tank and updating the roof drainage system would prevent the problem, he said.

Other high-priority flood areas are the Campbell Street dam and Shirley Lane. Remedies include drainage improvement, protection of open space that provides flood buffers, and revisions to development bylaws and regulations.

Selectmen must vote to adopt a formal plan, which will then be sent to FEMA and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.