LOCAL MITIGATION PLANNING

What is a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)?

While natural disasters can’t be completely avoided, LHMPs are effective tools for reducing losses and enhancing community resilience. These plans provide a framework for governments to lessen disaster impacts by promoting whole-community involvement, assessing risks, and developing strategies to mitigate the effects of natural hazards, thereby reducing risks to people, economies, and natural environments.

A FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan is required for communities (sub-applicants) interested in receiving FEMA’s grant funding for eligible mitigation projects.

Contact the Local Planning Unit at MitigationPlanning@CalOES.ca.gov

What does the Cal OES Local Mitigation Planning Unit do?

The Cal OES Local Mitigation Planning Unit oversees the technical assistance, training, outreach to support the development, update, and implementation of LHMPs in California. The Unit also reviews LHMPs, and forwards plans that meet federal regulations and guidance to FEMA for approval. Cal OES monitors and tracks where LHMPs are in development and implementation, to ensure that entities are eligible to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs, a key feature of participating in and adopting a LHMP.

What You Should Know

An approved LHMP is required to apply for a project in these programs:

• • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
  • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)

An approved LHMP allows FEMA to formally award/obligate a grant project for all FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance programs:

• • Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
  • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and HMGP-Post Fire

Plans expire 5 years after approval. To remain effective, they must be reviewed and revised at least every 5 years.

An approved LHMP is not required to be eligible for standard cost sharing under Public Assistance (PA) funding

Local Mitigation Planning Team

MitigationPlanning@CalOES.ca.gov