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

The California Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) manages Hazard Mitigation activities and projects through the Hazard 404 Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program. Hazard Mitigation division assists local and tribal governments with their hazard mitigation planning as well as develop the State Hazard Mitigation Plan.

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.