Executive Summary
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Mendocino County, along with 5 other participating jurisdictions, will develop an update to the 2014 Mendocino County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan to reduce losses resulting from natural disasters. Hazard mitigation is the use of sustained, long-term actions to reduce the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage that can result from a disaster. Benefits of mitigation planning include:
- Identifying actions for risk reduction through collaboration with stakeholders and the public,
- Focusing resources on the greatest risks and vulnerabilities,
- Building partnerships by involving citizens, organizations, and businesses,
- Increasing education and awareness of threats and hazards, as well as their risks,
- Communicating priorities to State and Federal officials, and
- Aligning risk reduction with other community objectives.
Planning efforts could include capital projects and other pragmatic activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards. The 2020 MJHMP Update will cover each of the major natural hazards that pose risks to County infrastructure and residents. Recognizing that successful mitigation planning efforts must be communicated and understood by the public, the County approach will include stakeholder participation and input with the use of cutting edge GIS technology to map and update the hazard information for each hazard profiled in the 2020 MJHMP.
Participating Jurisdictions
The 2020 MJHMP update will include, at a minimum, the jurisdictions listed below. It is understood that the County also encompasses areas of land controlled by Federal and State land management agencies, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, Bureau of Land Management, and Bureau of Reclamation. While other levels of government have jurisdiction in these parts of the County, the Hazard Mitigation Plan could also be used to document and coordinate mitigation efforts among Federal, State, and local jurisdictions. In addition, it will be important to invite organizations such as public and private utility companies to be stakeholders during the update process.
The following jurisdictions will meet FEMA guidelines and requirements as a formal participating agency:
Municipalities and Jurisdictions Participating in 2020 MJHMP Update
- City of Willits
- City of Ukiah
- City of Fort Bragg
- City of Point Arena
- Mendocino County Office of Education
Participating Jurisdictions Map
Participants not Shown on Map: Mendocino County Office of Education
Update Requirements and DMA 2000
A current and approved hazard mitigation plan is a prerequisite for jurisdictions wishing to pursue funding under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) if a Federal disaster should occur. The Stafford Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response and recovery activities, especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs.
On October 30, 2000, the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act was amended by Public Law 106-390 and is referred to as the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000). As a DMA 2000 requirement, the Mendocino MHMP must be updated every five (5) years to remain in compliance with regulations and Federal mitigation grant conditions. Federal regulations require hazard mitigation plans to include a plan for monitoring, evaluating, and updating the hazard mitigation plan. A current and approved hazard mitigation plan is a prerequisite for jurisdictions wishing to pursue funding under the Stafford Act.
Project Funding Information
Mendocino County is using an award from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to complete the MJHMP update. The County has contracted with Atlas Planning Solutions to update the current Mendocino Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan. The consultant will provide on-site process facilitation, stakeholder outreach, data collection and analysis, plan writing, and strategy development.