Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Why is there a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan?

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA), commonly known as the 2000 Stafford Act amendments, was approved by Congress on October 10, 2000. On October 30, 2000, the President signed the bill into law, creating Public Law 106-390, amended the Stafford Act with regards to hazard mitigation planning, primarily by moving from post-disaster mitigation to pre-disaster mitigation, planning and projects. The DMA 2000 emphasizes greater interaction between State and local hazard identification, mitigation planning and other mitigation activities.

The Riverside County Office of Education is in the process of drafting a jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) to be included in the County-wide LHMP in order to comply with Section 322 of the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. Adoption of an LHMP and its subsequent acceptance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be necessary in order for RCOE to qualify for federal Disaster Mitigation Grant funding in the future.

The purpose of the LHMP is to identify risks posed by natural and manmade disasters and ways to minimize damage from those disasters. Planning efforts will focus on potential impacts of disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, droughts, dam failure, landslides, and floods. Mitigation measures will focus on prevention, property protection, public education and awareness, natural resource protection and improved management practices for structural projects.

The adopted Plan will be available for review upon approval.

Persons interested in the LHMP are encouraged to contact Michael D’Amico, RCOE’s LHMP Project Manager at (951) 826-6250 or via e-mail at emergencyprep@rcoe.us.