Santa Cruz County is in the process of drafting a Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 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.  

Planning efforts include capital projects and other pragmatic activities that can mitigate the impacts of hazards.  The 2025 HMP Update covers 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 includes stakeholder participation and input with the use of GIS technology to map and update hazard information for each hazard profiled in the 2025 HMP.

The process incorporates input from the public, Federal and State land management agencies, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the US Forest Service, and from neighboring and regional agencies. The Hazard Mitigation Plan may also be used to document and coordinate mitigation efforts among Federal, State, and local jurisdictions.