Natural hazard mitigation plans

Natural Hazard Mitigation Plans assist communities in reducing or eliminating their exposure to natural hazard risks (e.g coastal erosion, drought, dust storms, earthquake, flood, landslides - debris flows, tsunamis, volcanic, wildfire, windstorms, and winter storms). They normally include a summary of the planning process, a community profile, a risk assessment, emergency management information, a mitigation action plan, and a strategy for monitoring and implementation. These plans are strategic in nature and often non-regulatory. However, they do assist communities in meeting both Oregon and federal laws and planning requirements. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-390; 42 USC 5131 ff.) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency's subsequent Interim Final Rule, 44 CFR Part 201, require all states and communities to develop natural hazard mitigation plans in order to be eligible for federal Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant funds and/or post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds.

Additionally, the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (PL 108-148; 16 USC 6501 ff.) has established statutory guidance and incentives for the development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP's) for counties, sub-county areas, and local communities. Several federal assistance programs for wildfire risk reduction and mitigation require CWPPs as a prerequisite for funding. CWPPs are collaborative efforts of local, state and federal agencies, along with groups representing diverse community knowledge and interests. They normally include a summary of the planning process, a community profile, a wildfire risk assessment, emergency management information, a mitigation action plan, and a plan for monitoring and evaluation.