Hazard Mitigation Home

What is Hazard Mitigation?

Hazard Mitigation is "any action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards". In California, the definition is expanded and includes natural and man-made hazards. The essential steps of hazard mitigation are:

• Hazard Identification

• Vulnerability Analysis

• Defining a Hazard Mitigation Strategy

• Implementation of Hazard Mitigation Activities and Projects

Hazard Mitigation Grants

The California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) manages hazard mitigation activities and projects through the 404 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program, and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program. 

Hazard Mitigation Planning

The Cal OES Hazard Mitigation Planning Division assists local and tribal governments with hazard mitigation planning, as well as leads coordination efforts to develop the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. For more information regarding the Local Mitigation Planning Unit and State Mitigation Planning Unit, continue reading onto the next section.

Hazard Mitigation Planning at Work in Your Community

Since the 1970's Napa County has suffered more than 500 million in property damage from flooding. The Napa River has flooded 27 times since 1862. This film illustrates how residents, businesses, more than 27 local/state/regional/federal government entities, the Chamber of Commerce, environmental organizations, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers administered a community based planning process.

​Hazard Mitigation Planning

Cal OES has two (2) units focused on mitigation planning: State Mitigation Planning and Local Mitigation Planning. These units are responsible for a comprehensive local and state planning program. Hazard mitigation is the cornerstone of every communities approach to reducing vulnerability to disasters. Mitigation requires the coordinated effort and participation of a wide range of stakeholders and the public in the planning process. Hazard mitigation is the only phase of emergency management specifically dedicated to breaking the cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.

State Mitigation Planning

Cal OES leads the coordination efforts to update the State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) and supports related implementation efforts. The plan represents information gathered from State Hazard Mitigation Team (SHMT) members, Strategic Working Groups, and other valuable stakeholders and sources of information.

Local Mitigation Planning

Hazard mitigation planning reduces loss of life and property by minimizing the impact of disasters. Cal OES assists local and tribal governments in the development of Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs) and provides technical assistance, training, and outreach to local jurisdictions. Cal OES reviews all LHMPs in accordance with the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) regulations and coordinates with local jurisdictions to ensure compliance with federal regulations.

​California Climate Adaptation

The California Adaptation Planning Guide, or APG, is designed to support local government, regional organizations, and climate collaborative groups to integrate best practices and current science into their adaptation planning efforts. The APG provides helpful resources to local governments as they comply with state requirements for local adaptation planning, and provides recommendations and advice on community-level climate change adaptation planning.

​Hazard Mitigation Funding Opportunities

FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant program provides funding for eligible mitigation activities that reduce disaster losses, and protect life and property from future disaster damages, including the following:

• Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program: Support for states, local communities, tribes and territories as they undertake hazard mitigation projects, reducing the risks they face from disasters and natural hazards.

• Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) 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.

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

The Cal OES 404 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 additional information regarding the funding opportunities listed above, please visit the Cal OES 404 HMGP Unit webpage or contact our program at HMA@caloes.ca.gov.

Technical Assistance Programs (TAP) Unit

The Cal OES Technical Assistances Program (TAP) Unit provides suppport that requires technical and/or specialized expertise for various programs including Public Assistance (PA), Hazard Mitigation (HM), and Individual Assistance (IA) within Cal OES. This includes providing information on environmental laws and regulations, engineering related to restoring damaged public facilities, and codes and standards as they apply to the recovery process. TAP also provides outreach and technical assistance to applicants by providing the latest information on regulations, and programs and/or grant program policy updates or amendments.

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) Grants

Find additional information regarding FEMA's hazzard mitigation assistance grants and funding for eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses visit https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation.

​California Flood After Fire Toolkit Now Available for Download

A Resource for Technical Specialists to Assess Flood and Debris Flow Risk after a Wildfire

The California Silver Jackets released the Flood After Fire: California Toolkit, which is a collaborative, living document that is comprised of a collection of tools, methods, and other resources to asses the risks associated with flooding and debris flow after a fire.

The toolkit is available for download at the following webpages:

California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Ready for Wildfire: Post-Wildfire Recovery | https://www.readyforwildfire.org/post-wildfire/after-a-wildfire/

California Department of Water Resources (DWR) | Flood After Fire Toolkit Files

The California Silver Jackets is a partnership program that brings together Federal, State, local, and tribal agencies to find collborative solutions to complex flood risk management issues. Visit the DWR webpage for additional information at https://water.ca.gov/Programs/Flood-Management/Community-Resources/Silver-Jackets.