Local Hazard Mitigation Planning and Grants Program Mariposa County LHMP January 2011

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) Before 2000, under the Stafford Act, emphasis was on post-disaster mitigation DMA 2000 shifted emphasis to pre-disaster mitigation planning Required Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs) to be prepared before local government can receive federal mitigation project grants Added new Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program to reduce potential losses before disasters Funded $1.06B of projects in California (Dec 2009)

Hazard Mitigation Defined Hazard Mitigation is “any action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards.”

Mitigation Projects Distinguish from non-mitigation projects Examples NOT Mitigation Flood walls and levees Sandbags and rescue boats Vegetation management and landscape ordinances Fire trucks, respirators, and radios Seismic building codes and building retrofits Family disaster supply kits and “go-bags”

Hazard Mitigation WebPortal http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov/

Hazard Mitigation WebPortal Tabs Home Planning Grants Resources & Education Hazards Calendar FAQs Contact Us

LHMP Reference Materials

LHMP Preparation Guidance There are several primary references for understanding how to put together a FEMA- Approvable LHMP: Local Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance, July 1, 2008. 2008 Crosswalk FEMA “How-To” Guides FEMA-Approved LHMPs

FEMA LHMP Review Crosswalk

FEMA LHMP Crosswalk Plan Review Summary Page

FEMA LHMP Review Crosswalk Prerequisites Planning Process Documentation of the Planning Process Risk Assessment Identifying & Profiling Hazards Assessing Vulnerability Mitigation Strategy Local Hazard Mitigation Goals Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions Implementation of Mitigation Actions Plan Maintenance Process California Requirements

Crosswalk: Prerequisites Submittal of draft plan pending adoption For multi-jurisdictional plans, evidence that each jurisdiction has participated in the process

Crosswalk: Planning Process FEMA considers the plan as the written record, or documentation, of the planning process To emphasize the importance of the process, FEMA has taken, to the extent possible, a “performance standard,” rather than a “prescriptive” approach to the planning requirements

Crosswalk: Risk Assessment Identifying Hazards Profiling Hazards Assessing Vulnerability Analyzing Development Trends For LHMP updates, include newly identified hazards, updated hazard/risk data, and updated development data

Crosswalk: Mitigation Strategy Local Hazard Mitigation Goals Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Actions Implementation of Mitigation Actions Implementation of National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) For LHMP updates, goals, actions, and implementation must be evaluated

Mitigation Actions Prevention Property Protection Public Education and Awareness Natural Resource Protection Emergency Services Structural Projects

Example: Mitigation Strategy Prioritizing Mitigations See City of Redding’s approach to linking goals, objectives and mitigation actions to evaluation criteria See Yolo County’s systematic approach to identifying and prioritizing mitigation actions See City of Roseville’s hazard ranking and mitigation ranking approach

Crosswalk: Plan Maintenance Process Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan Incorporation into Existing Planning Mechanisms Continued Public Involvement

Key Issues

LHMP Updates Must be updated and resubmitted to FEMA for approval every five (5) years Must demonstrate progress A plan update is NOT an annex to the previously approved plan; it stands on its own as a complete and current plan

LHMP-SHMP Linkage Establish consistency between state and local goals and objectives State Goals: Significantly reduce life loss and injuries Minimize damage to structures and property, as well as disruption of essential services and human activities Protect the environment Promote hazard mitigation as an integrated public policy

Prepared by M. Boswell

Legislative Changes AB 2140 2007 Flood Bills AB 162 AB 156 SB 5

General Plan Link with LHMP General Plan Guidelines 2003 Governor’s Office of Planning & Research

LHMP-Safety Element Integration AB 2140 provides a financial incentive for local agencies to adopt an LHMP “as part of the safety element of its general plan.” Cal EMA has developed a model outline for an integrated General Plan Safety Element and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (On WebPortal Planning page)

Safety Element Establishes policies and programs to reduce the potential risk of death, injuries, property damage, and economic and social dislocation resulting from fires, floods, earthquakes, landslides, and other hazards

Community Rating System CRS participation can lower flood insurance premiums up to 45% CRS components are similar to elements or 4-phases of the LHMP crosswalk Planning Process Risk Assessment Mitigation Strategy Plan Maintenance

LHMP & CRS Similarities (Page 13 LHMP FEMA Guidance)

Review and Approval Process

Submittal of LHMP Draft Submit the following documents to the Hazard Mitigation Planning Branch: Cover Letter One hard copy of the LHMP.  Two disk copies of the LHMP and crosswalk (prefer pdf formatting) Plan Updates require a copy of old crosswalk w/FEMA comments Mail to: California Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Planning Branch  3650 Schriever Avenue Mather, CA 95655 Attention: Ken Worman, State Hazard Mitigation Officer (SHMO)

Adoption Process FEMA requires that plans be formally adopted by the governing body of the local jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan.  There are procedures if a local jurisdiction has not passed a formal resolution, or uses some other form of documentation of adoption. The date of plan adoption must be identified.  This is essential to documentation of the planning process and for FEMA to track the plan’s status relative to the 5-year plan update requirement.  

Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs http://hazardmitigation.calema.ca.gov/grants

FEMA Grant Guidance June/July Annual Solicitation

Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grant Programs Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) – not offered in Calif. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

FEMA HMA Programs Eligible Activities Table (Page 12 of Guidance)

HMA Program Requirements All grant programs require: A Notice of Interest (NOI) PDM, FMA, and SRL require an e-grant account Must be in good standing with NFIP HMGP application - State generated document Current FEMA-Approved LHMP – (for project grants) Multi-Jurisdictional Plans require Letters of Commitment (LOC) from all participating jurisdictions

Mariposa County Local Hazard Mitigation Plan – Schedule

Mariposa County January 2011 Don Florence – Emergency Planner Thank You! Mariposa County January 2011 Don Florence – Emergency Planner