LHMP overview for the City of Capitola. Intended for local government and public viewing. Researched and produced by Todd Mayer BS, MS.

1. Capitola Police Department
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Plan
By: Todd L. Mayer, BS, MS

2. What is Hazard Mitigation Planning?
 Hazard mitigation is “any action taken to reduce or
eliminate the long-term risk to human life and
property from natural hazards.” In California this
definition has been expanded to include both
natural and man-made hazards.
 We understand hazard events will continue to
occur that may result in death, destruction of
property and infrastructure. The work done to
minimize the impact of hazard events to life and
property is called Hazard Mitigation.

3. The Essential Steps of Hazard Mitigation
 Hazard identification.
 Vulnerability analysis.
 Defining a hazard mitigation strategy.
 Implementation of hazard mitigation activities.

4. Why Hazard Mitigation Planning?
 State, Indian Tribal, and local governments are
required to develop a hazard mitigation plan as a
condition for receiving certain types of non-
emergency disaster assistance, including funding
for mitigation projects.
 The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and the
Emergency Assistance Act provides the legal basis
for State, local, and Indian Tribal governments to
undertake a risk-based approach to reducing risks
from hazards through mitigation planning.

5. What is the Plan’s Purpose?
 A key element in developing and maintaining a
local hazard mitigation plan is to strive to establish
a policy and program framework within local
government that is adequate to control the risks of
damage and disruption from future disasters. As a
component of the City of Capitola Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan, the existing plans, policies, codes,
and programs are to be assessed for comparison to
the risks posed to the community by the hazards
identified.

6. What is the Plan’s Purpose?
 Identify hazards and understand risks.
 Build relationships prior to an emergency.
 FEMA approved plan is required for funding
opportunities:
 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM).
 Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA).
 Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC).
 Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL).

7. Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs
 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP): HMGP
assists in implementing long-term hazard mitigation
measures following Presidential disaster declarations.
Funding is available to implement projects in accordance
with State, Tribal, and Local priorities.
 Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM): PDM provides funds on
an annual basis for hazard mitigation planning and the
implementation of mitigation projects prior to a disaster.
The goal of the PDM program is to reduce overall risk to
the population and structures, while at the same time,
also reducing reliance on Federal funding from actual
disaster declarations.

8. Hazard Mitigation Grant Programs
 Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC): RFC provides funds on
an annual basis to reduce the risk of flood damage to
individual properties insured under the NFIP that have
had one or more claim payments for flood damages. RFC
provides up to 100% federal funding for projects in
communities that meet the reduced capacity
requirements.
 Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL): SRL provides funds on an
annual basis to reduce the risk of flood damage to
residential structures insured under the NFIP that are
qualified as severe repetitive loss structures. SRL
provides up to 90% federal funding for eligible projects.

9. What is in the Hazard Mitigation Plan?
 §44 CFR 201.6 outlines content requirements:
 Plan Purpose.
 Development Process.
 Community Demographics.
 Hazard Profiles and Risk Assessment.
 Describe type, location, geographic extent,
vulnerability of hazards- Flood vs. Earthquake vs.
Tsunami vs. Man-made event.
 Estimate potential losses.

10. What is in the Hazard Mitigation Plan?
 Hazard Mitigation Alternatives:
 “Preparedness” actions for all hazards.
 Emergency notification system.
 Education and training.
 Mitigation actions specific to a hazard.
 Safe room for storm shelter.
 Soil testing for expansive soils.
 Mitigation Goals and Objectives.
 Reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities.

11. What is in the Hazard Mitigation Plan?
 Mitigation Strategy:
 Strategies identified for all hazard types.
 Staff will assist participants in developing local
mitigation strategies specific to the community’s
exposure and impacts to identified natural and
man-made hazards.
 Collaboration with other jurisdictions.

12. What is in the Hazard Mitigation Plan?
 Plan Maintenance Process:
 Five year cycle for plan once approved.
 Monitor, evaluate and update plan.
 Maintain public involvement.
 Incorporate Hazard Mitigation Plan into existing
planning mechanisms, i.e. Safety Element of the
General Plan, Capital Improvements Plan, etc.

13. Sampling of Possible Hazards
 Landslide / Erosion
 Earthquake
 Severe Winter Storm
 Energy Disruption
 Structural Failure
 Extreme Heat
 Flooding
 Tsunami
 Grass / Timber / Wildfire

14. Mitigation Goals and Objectives
 Possible Goals and Objectives:
 Protect lives and reduce injuries.
 Coordinate internal and external emergency plans.
 Coordinate with other agencies.
 Enhance the City’s resiliency.

15. Plan Review and Approval Process
 Plan presented to City Council for adoption.
 Plan will be submitted to the State Hazard
Mitigation Branch for initial review and
coordination with the City.
 State routes the plan to the FEMA Regional Office
for formal review and approval.
 Regional review is approximately 45 days

16. Plan Maintenance Process
 Monitor, Evaluate and Update Plan:
 Police Department will coordinate maintenance.
 The plan should be reviewed periodically
(annually?).
 Updates or changes to the plan will be tracked.
 A Public Comment section should be placed on the
City Website.
 Planning Team members should receive yearly
reminders requesting plan input or updates.

17. Questions and Answer
 Thank you.