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Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

Local Mitigation Planning Virtual Workshop (G-318)

The next Local Mitigation Planning Workshop is scheduled for: TBA

Session Duration: TBA

Cal OES and FEMA Region IX Hazard Mitigation Planners held the pilot G-318 Local Mitigation Planning Virtual Workshop on July 26-29, 2021, and provided Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) developers with the information neccessary to prepare and implement an LHMP. This course focused on local mitigation planning and the responsibilities of local governmental entities and will also benefit State entities by enhancing their ability to think of hazards and hazard mitigation from a local perspective. The course was jointly taught by Cal OES and FEMA.

Registration is closed. Please visit the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI) training webpage or contact Local Hazard Mitigation Planning at mitigationplanning@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov for upcoming training opportunities.

 

G-318 Workshop Module Slides Now Available

Module 1: Guidance for Developing a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Module 2: Identifying Hazards and Potential Impacts to Community Assests

Module 3: Evaluate Solutions and Plan for Implementation

Module 4: Plan Maintenance, Updates, and Implementation

 

G-318 Workshop Resource Library

Module #1: Local Hazard Mitigation | Guidance for Developing a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (2013): The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook is a tool for local governments to use in developing or updating a local hazard mitigation plan to meet requirements of Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Section 201.6 for FEMA approval and eligibility to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs.

Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2011): FEMA’s official interpretation of local mitigation planning requirements. Includes standard operating procedure for plan reviews.

FEMA Flood Risk Communication Toolkit for Community Officials: This message guide is an easy-to-use resource for local jurisdictions. It provides language that can be used to shape conversations and written materials that will help the people in your community better understand why flood risks matter, the impacts flooding can have, and the steps to take the reduce the risk – both as individuals and as a whole community.

        • Flood Risk Communication Video Series (YouTube): A 14-video series on topics such as: Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program, Flood Insurance and Communities, Flood Risk Basics and Communities, Introduction to Risk MAP, Providing Input as the Map is Developed, and more.

Guide to Virtual Meetings: This document provides tips, resources, and potential platforms to facilitate and host effective virtual hazard mitigation planning meetings.

Guides to Expanding Mitigation: Part of a series designed to highlight innovative and emerging partnerships for mitigation. In areas such as:

        • Cemeteries, whole community, communications systems, equity, electric power, municipal financing, transportation, public health, agriculture, and arts and culture.

A Guide to Supporting Engagement and Resiliency in Rural Communities (2020): The insight and guidance found within this document take into account community- and culture-based considerations, including, but not limited to: accessibility to high-speed internet, driving distance and accessibility to commonly used community meeting spaces, importance of established trust, accessibility of resources, and the value of community champions. Every community is unique and different, and the insights from this guide should be adapted and applied to best fit those individual needs.

 

Applicable California Laws

 

 

2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan: The 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) represents the state’s primary hazard mitigation guidance document, and is composed of comprehensive and valuable input provided by State Hazard Mitigation Team members and stakeholders

 

        • Chapter 5: California Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

 

Resilient California Coastal Plan Alignment Compass Tool: Integrating various local planning initiatives will help us protect our communities. Unity in thought and approach will make our region stronger and more successful. A comprehensive and cohesive planning approach will pay great dividends. Most importantly, the community will evolve to be in a better position to weather coastal hazards. Other benefits include reduced duplication of effort, lowered potential for policy conflicts, streamlined public outreach, and increased eligibility for implementation funding.

 

 

Level Up Audio Project by FEMA Region IX and Georgetown Climate Center: Season 1, Episode 2 Integrated Resilience Planning, City of Santa Cruz

 

 

Module #2: Conducting a Risk Assessment | Identifying Hazards and Potential Impacts to Community Assests

 

 

Flood Risk Products and Tools

Risk MAP Products (Map, Report, Database)

Coastal Flood Risk: Achieving Coastal Resilience

Flood Risk Analysis and Mapping Process: Risk MAP supports community resilience by providing data, building partnerships, and supporting long-term hazard mitigation planning. In particular, Risk MAP’s Flood Risk Products work alongside regulatory products to provide flood risk information and support your community’s overall floodplain management and hazard mitigation strategies.

  • U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit: Offers a variety of tools that help model future climate conditions to aid policymakers in decision-making.

  • Digital Coast: Developed to meet the unique needs of the coastal management community. The website provides not only coastal data, but also the tools, training, and information needed to make these data useful.

  • NOAA Technical Reports and Tools:

Patterns and Projections of High Tide Flooding

Global and Regional Sea Level Rise (SLR) Scenarios for the U.S.

Extreme Water Levels of the U.S., 1893-2010

CO-OPS API for Data Retrieval

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sea-Level Change Curve Calculator

NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer

Extent Documentation for Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (word) (pdf)

ResilientCA.org: The Adaptation Clearinghouse is the State of California’s consolidated searchable database of resources for local, regional, and statewide climate adaptation planning and decision-making.

 

Module #3: Develop a Mitigation Strategy | Evaluate Solutions and Plan for Implementation

Mitigation Planning and the Community Rating System (CRS) Key Topics Bulletin (2018): This bulletin is designed to help community officials integrate mitigation planning and CRS planning to produce more effective local flood mitigation actions and to meet the criteria of both FEMA programs more efficiently.

FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide and Planning Handbook: The FEMA Mitigation Plan Review details the process to complete an approved mitigation plan under applicable laws and regulations (see 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 201 Mitigation Planning.

FEMA Integration Resources: Integrating Mitigation with Related Planning Objectives

        • Planning for Drought Resilience Factsheet

        • Planning Integration: LInking Local Planning Efforts (2015)

        • Mitigation Planning and the Community Rating System

        • Planning Related Activities Using Hazard Mitigation Planning Grant Program 7% Funding

Building Community Resilience with Nature-based Solutions: Nature-based solutions weave natural features and processes into a community’s landscape through planning, design, and engineering practices. They can promote resilience and adaptation while being integrated into a community’s built environment (for example, a stormwater park) or its natural areas (for example, land conservation).

FEMA National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP): The NFIP provides flood insurance to property owners, renters and businesses, and having this coverage helps them recover faster when floodwaters recede. The NFIP works with communities required to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations that help mitigate flooding effects.

Community Rating System (CRS): This NFIP CRS is a voluntary program for recognizing and encouraging community floodplain management activities that exceed minimum NFIP standards.

FEMA Resources for Mitigation Activities:

Using the Hazard Mitigation Planning Process for Hazard-Specific Actions

Effective Public Outreach and Engagement

Creating and Evaluating a Meaningful Mitigation Strategy

Charting the Right Course: Using the Compass Tool to Integrate City Plans

Effectively Expanding Community Engagement

Long-term Dedication to Reducing Risks

FEMA Mitigation Action Portfolio: This portfolio has been created to introduce stakeholders to the BRIC program and the array of eligible hazard  mitigation activities that can benefit stakeholders.

2018 California SHMP: The 2018 California State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) represents the state’s primary hazard mitigation guidance document, and is composed of comprehensive and valuable input provided by State Hazard Mitigation Team members and stakeholders

        • Chapter 5: California Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

Module #4: Plan Maintenance, Updates, and Implementation

FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide and Planning Handbook: The FEMA Mitigation Plan Review details the process to complete an approved mitigation plan under applicable laws and regulations (see 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 201 Mitigation Planning.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Funding Opportunities

Robert T. Stafford Act Grant Programs

            • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): Assists in implementing long-term hazard mitigation planning and projects following a Presidential major disaster declaration.

                  • Homeowners’s Guide to HMGP: This brochure answers some common questinos homeowners have about implementing post-disaster projects that reduce future damage to their home.

                  • Protect your Property from Natural Hazards Brochures: The Protect Your Property series of brochures is intended to help homeowners and renters take steps to prepare for and reduce damage from a number of natural hazard events. The brochures provide potential mitigation actions inside and outside the home, with connections to additional resources.

            • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Post Fire: FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) has Post Fire assistance available to help communities implement hazard mitigation measures after wildfire disasters

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

            • Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM): Provides funds annually for hazard mitigation planning and projects. PDM is authorized by Section 203 of the Stafford Act. As a result of amendments by the Disaster Relief and Recovery Act of 2018, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation program is being replaced with the new Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program.

            • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC): Support states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards. BRIC replaces the existing Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program.

National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 Program

            • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Grant Program: Provides funds for planning and projects to reduce or eliminate risk of flood damage to buildings that are insured annually under the National Flood Insurance Program.

            • 2021 FMA and BRIC Programs’ Webinar Series: The 2021 BRIC and FMA Webinar Series will be provided from July 28 to October 28. The webinars are designed for leaders in states, local communities, tribes and territories, as well as private sector entities, private non-profit organizations, and individuals interested in learning more about the BRIC and FMA grant programs and strategies for how to apply for them.

 

Planning-Related Activities (PRA): To strengthen hazard mitigation across the country, FEMA supports a variety of planning-related activities through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and HMGP Post-fire. In addition to hazard mitigation planning grants, the HMGP offers funding for planning-related activities and provides state, tribal and local governments with the flexibility to reduce risk and integrate hazard mitigation principles into their planning for resilience.

 

 

BRIC Mitigation Planning Activities: This program support material describes mitigation planning activities that are eligible for grant funds under the annual BRIC State/Territory Allocation and Tribal Set-Aside.

Additional Mitigation Planning Resources

National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS): NIDIS has announced two new interactive features on Drought.gov that will make it easier for decision makers and the public across the U.S. to share timely, reliable drought information. These new maps further the goal of making Drought.gov a one-stop shop for data, decision-support products, and resources.

Grants.gov: Search the grants.gov database for Notice of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs).

Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA)

Rehabilitation of High Hazard Potential Dams (HHPD): FEMA’s HHPD grant program provides technical, planning, design, and construction assistance for eligible rehabilitation activities that reduce dam risk and increase community preparedness.

Public Assistance (PA) Program Section 406 Mitigation: FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and certain types of private non-profits so that communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

Mitigate Disaster Damage with FEMA Public Assistance (Factsheet)

Increased Cost of Compliance (ICC) Coverage under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)

 

U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA)  Funding Opportunities

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Grants

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Funding Opportunities

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Grants

          • Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Program: Safeguards lives and property from floods, drought, and the products of erosion on any watershed whenever fire, flood or any other natural occurrence is causing or has caused a sudden impairment of the watershed.

          • Watershed and Flood Prevention Operations (WFPO) Program: Provides technical and financial assistance to entities of State and local governments and Tribes (project sponsors) for planning and installing watershed projects.

          • Watershed Rehabilitation Program: Offers financial and technical assistance to rehabilitate dams constructed through NRCS Watershed Programs. This program extends the service life of dams to meet applicable safety and performance standards or decommission the dams so they longer pose a threat to life and property.

          • Watershed Surveys and Planning (WSP): Authorizes NRCS to cooperate with Federal, State, and local agencies and Tribal governments to protect watersheds from damage caused by erosion, floodwater, sediment and to conserve and develop water and land resources.

U.S. Forest Services (USFS): Funding Opportunities

[End of G-318 Workshop Resource Library]

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Hazard Mitigation Funding Opportunities

Cal OES has open funding opportunities to assist in the development of your mitigation plans. Interested agencies are invited to submit a Notice of Interest (NOI) for eligible Hazard Mitigation projects and planning activities. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Unit administers the federal grants and provides subject matter expertise to local governments and other eligible applicant with respect to mitigation activities, application development and grant management.

Grant Opportunities and Program Support
For information regarding the funding opportunities, please visit the Cal OES 404 HMGP Unit webpage or contact the program at HMA@pfwt.caloes.ca.gov.

 

Local Mitigation Planning

Because of the history of disasters throughout California, encouraging communities to adopt Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs) is a priority. The Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) requires that states review LHMPs as part of their state hazard mitigation planning process. The intent is three‐fold:

  1. To gather hazard, vulnerability, and mitigation information from the local level for use in state‐level planning

  2. To ensure that state and local hazard mitigation planning is coordinated to the greatest extent practical

  3. To ensure that local jurisdictions are made aware of the hazards and vulnerabilities within their jurisdiction and to develop strategies to reduce those vulnerabilities

This process ensures that mitigation actions are based on sound planning processes that account for the risks and capabilities of California communities. Mitigation plans form the foundation for a community’s long term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.

DMA 2000 provided an opportunity for states, tribes, and local governments to take a new and revitalized approach to mitigation planning. To implement the DMA 2000 planning requirements, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002. This rule (44 CFR Part 201, Section 201.6) established the mitigation planning requirements for states, tribes, and local communities. For LHMPs, it essentially states that local jurisdictions must also demonstrate that proposed mitigation actions are based on a sound planning process that accounts for the inherent risk and capabilities of the individual communities.

2013 SHMP Section 2.5 – Page 33 

The LHMP Process

Cal OES hazard mitigation planning staff assists local governments in the development of LHMPs and provides technical assistance, training and outreach to local jurisdictions. Cal OES reviews all LHMPs in accordance with DMA 2000 regulations and coordinates with local jurisdictions to ensure compliance with FEMA’s Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide, dated October 2011. Once Cal OES planning staff find the LHMP to be “approvable,” the plan is forwarded to FEMA Region IX mitigation planning staff for final review and approval.

​Resources – Mitigation Planning Guidances

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Planning

Local mitigation plans look at natural hazards that may affect jurisdictions such as local governments and suggest mitigation actions to reduce losses from those hazards. Departments within local governments, including emergency managers, mitigation planners, community and economic development planners, floodplain managers, and other stakeholders, may find this most useful.

This website provides several resources to help update local mitigation plans and support ongoing implementation, such as:

Regulations and Guidance

Regulations

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Public Assistance Grant Program (PA)

Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM)

Fire Management Assistance Grant Program (FMAG)

Mitigation Planning Guidance and Policy

State Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2015)

Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2011)

Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2017)

Additional Mitigation Planning Policies

State Mitigation Plan Review Guide Policy (2015)

Policy for Use of Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (2013)

Restrictions on Grant Obligations to State, Tribal, and Local Governments without a FEMA-Approved Mitigation Plan (2013)

Developing a Hazard Mitigation Plan

State Government

State Mitigation Plan Review Guide

State Mitigation Plan Review Guide Fact Sheet (2016)

Mitigation Ideas: A Resource for Reducing Risk To Natural Hazards (2013)

IS-329 State Hazard Mitigation Planning (2019)

Tribal Governments

Tribal Mitigation Plan Review Guide (2017)

Tribal Mitigation Planning Handbook (2019) and Worksheets

The Tribal Mitigation Planning Fact Sheet (2016)

Local Government

Local Mitigation Plan Review Guide

Local Mitigation Planning Handbook

Considerations for Local Mitigation Planning Grant Subapplicants

Mitigation Planning Program Resource List

Local Mitigation Planning Factsheet (2016)

 
 

​Links to County LHMPs

 

Resources for Local Governments and Jurisdictions to Use in Developing or Updating a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan