Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
The current Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is available here.
Public comment is welcome throughout this process, and there will be specific opportunities for public comment as the update is prepared. Any public meetings that are conducted will be announced here. At the end of the process, public hearings will be conducted by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors, Susanville City Council, and the Tribal Business Council of the Susanville Indian Rancheria to adopt the updated LHMP. Those public hearings will be announced here as well as multiple other locations and sites throughout the County.
Questions or comments may be addressed to Lassen County Deputy Director of the Planning and Building Services Department Gaylon Norwood by calling (530) 251-8269 or by email at: landuse@co.lassen.ca.us
What is a Hazard Mitigation:
Hazard mitigation is defined as any action taken to reduce and/or eliminate impacts from hazards and threats. Mitigation can reduce the enormous cost and lengthy duration of response and recovery of disasters to residents, businesses, and government. In addition, it can protect critical community facilities, reduce exposure to liability, and minimize community disruption.
Hazard Mitigation Plan Purpose and Authority:
The primary purpose of a LHMP is to identify community policies, actions, and tools for implementation over the short and long-term that will result in a reduction in risk and potential future losses community wide. This is accomplished by using a systematic process of learning about the hazards that can affect each of the participating jurisdictions, setting clear goals and objectives, identifying and implementing appropriate actions, and keeping the plan current.
The LHMP is an integral part of a multi-pronged approach to minimizing personal injury and property damage from natural, manmade, and technological hazards, and it complements other planning documents and regulatory authorities governing pre-disaster land use planning and post-disaster response and recovery. It is intended to set the tone for the implementation of hazard mitigation practices that will build a disaster resistant and sustainable community.
The impetus and authority to create this plan is derived from the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Public Law 93-288), as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000). In response to escalating disaster costs, the federal government adopted DMA 2000 which places emphasis on hazard mitigation planning. Under DMA 2000, state and local governments are required to have a FEMA-approved LHMP to be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program- HMGP, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities- BRIC, and Flood Mitigation Assistance- FMA).
The requirements and procedures for mitigation plans are found in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) at Title 44, Chapter 1, Part 201 and the associated Interim Final Rule changes. The federal law and associated rule changes and regulations establish planning and funding criteria for states and local communities.
Section 322 of DMA 2000 specifically addresses mitigation planning at the state and local levels. LHMPs must be consistent with the State HMP and must demonstrate that their proposed projects are based on a sound planning process that accounts for the risk to and the capabilities of the individual communities.
Local governments have certain responsibilities for implementing Section 322 including:
- Preparing and submitting a LHMP
- Reviewing and updating the LHMP every five years, and
- Monitoring mitigation projects included in the LHMP
Adoption of the LHMP by the governing body of each participating jurisdiction (Lassen County, the City of Susanville, and the Susanville Indian Rancheria) through a signed resolution following formal review and approval by the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA constitutes plan completion.