Tehama County along with the cities of Corning, Red Bluff, and Tehama completed the update to the 2012 Tehama County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to reduce further losses resulting from disasters. The 2018 Tehama County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA on 10/16/18.
Hazard mitigation is the use of long- and short-term actions to reduce the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage that can result from a disaster. It involves planning efforts, policy changes, programs, capital projects, and other activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards. The 2018 HMP Update covered each of the major natural hazards that pose risks to County infrastructure and residents.
PARTICIPATING JURISDICTIONS
- Tehama County (Unincorporated Area)
- City of Corning
- City of Red Bluff
- City of Tehama
HMP UPDATE REQUIREMENTS AND DMA 2000
The Robert T. Stafford Act constitutes the statutory authority for most Federal disaster response activities especially as they pertain to FEMA and FEMA programs and created the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP). The HMGP assists states and local communities in implementing long-term hazard mitigation measures following a major disaster declaration.
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 HMP 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 Robert T. Stafford Act.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSOLIDATION
As part of this planning effort, the planning team combined Tehama County’s Flood Management Plan (currently under separate cover) with Tehama County’s 2018 HMP. The 2018 HMP Update is compliant with all Community Rating System (CRS) 510 activities. Following the 10-step process described in CRS Activity 510 (Floodplain Management Planning) the planning team developed a more comprehensive plan for flood damage reduction within the hazard mitigation plan update.
FLOOD INUNDATION MAPPING
The Local Planning Project Management Team identified areas where Flood Inundation mapping products would be most beneficial for internal emergency response and mitigation planning personnel. As part of this effort, a series of public outreach maps were developed to communicate anticipated flood depths in populated areas of the County. Areas of mapping were determined through planning team analysis.
CRS PARTICIPATION FEASIBILITY STUDY
FEMA’s CRS program is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) requirements. As a result, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community actions meeting the goals of the CRS Program:
- Reduce flood damage to insurable property;
- Strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the NFIP,
- Encourage a comprehensive approach to floodplain management, and
- Reduce Flood Insurance premiums for constituents.
Through a feasibility study, the planning team outlined how the County and each of the non-participating jurisdictions could benefit from participating in FEMA’s CRS program. This study included the associated costs and benefits to start and maintain the CRS program for each participating community. The City of Tehama (currently participating in CRS Program) will benefit from this feasibility study which will include possible improvements that could increase Tehama’s CRS classification, further reducing flood insurance premiums for residents within the City. A CRS Impact Analysis Report was prepared under separate cover from the completed HMP.
PROJECT FUNDING INFORMATION
Tehama County was awarded FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program planning funds as a subgrantee under the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) to support this project. Using these funds, the County contracted with Dynamic Planning + Science (DP+S) to update the County’s previous local Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, developed a Community Rating System program feasibility study for the County and developed flood inundation mapping products for flood-prone areas within Tehama County.