Sample Plan Organization

  1. Cover Page
    • Title (City or Town Local Hazard Mitigation Plan)
  2. Jurisdiction Information
    • Name(s) of Participating Jurisdiction(s)
    • New Plan or Update?
    • Previous FEMA Approval Date(s)
    • Version (with submittal dates)
    • Funding Assistance (optional)
  3. Table of Contents
  4. Executive Summary [Optional]
  5. Adoption Documentation
  6. Background [Optional]
    • Introduction to Hazard Mitigation and the Plan/Plan Update
      • Community Planning Area
    • Location Information and Geography
    • Demographics
    • Housing
    • Land Use and Infrastructure
    • Community Development and Development Trends
    • Historic, Natural/Environmental and Cultural Resources
    • Commerce, Industry, Academia
    • National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participation and Community Rating System (CRS) participation, if applicable
  7. Planning Process
    • Purpose, Overview and Background
    • Building Support: Community Involvement, Roles and Responsibilities
      • The Planning Team, Consultant (if applicable) and Local Leadership
      • Multi-Jurisdictional Participation
      • Stakeholders
      • Public
    • Understanding the Community’s Risks
      • Gather Resources
      • Review and Incorporation of Information
      • Stakeholder and Public Input
      • Developing/Updating the Risk Assessment
    • Developing and Updating the Mitigation Strategy
      • Identification and Review of Goals, Actions, Priorities, Changes, Progress
      • Review and Incorporation of Stakeholder and Public Exchange
    • Bringing the Plan to Life: Implementation and Maintenance
      • Method, Responsibilities and Schedule
        • Plan [Update] Review, Adoption, and Approval
        • Monitoring
        • Evaluation (additional documents in appendices)
        • Updates
      • Continued Public Involvement (also see Appendix – Outreach Strategy)
  8. Risk Assessment
    • Defining Risk and Methodology
    • Significant events since the last plan update (major disasters, major developments, conditions effecting risk in the community)
    • Hazards
      • a. Hazard Identification
        • Hazards Excluded From Risk Assessment (with explanation)
        • Hazard Profiles (each applicable hazard)
          • Description
          • Location
          • Extent (magnitude)
          • Previous Occurrence, Disasters
          • Probability of Future Events
          • Effects of climate change on the hazard’s location, severity and probability
    • Vulnerability for Each Hazard
      • a. Community Assets
        • People
        • Economy
        • Built Environment
          • Existing structures
          • Infrastructure
          • Critical Facilities/Community Lifelines
          • Historic and Cultural Resources
          • Effects of Climate Change, Population and Land Use Change on Vulnerability
          • Future Development
        • Natural Environment
          • Water Resources, Watershed
          • Protected Natural Areas
          • Other
    • Risk Analysis and Assessment Matrix
      • Methodology
        • Exposure Analysis
        • Historical Analysis
          • Repetitive and Severe Repetitive Loss Properties
        • Scenario Analysis (if applicable)
        • Changes in Development Analysis (for plan update)
      • Vulnerability Summary (for each hazard)
        • Identified Risk in the Community
        • Effects of Climate Change, Population and Land-Use Change on Vulnerability
        • Jurisdictional Vulnerability - Narrative Summary, Matrix or Annexes
  9. Capability Assessment
    • Purpose – Capabilities for Both Existing and Future Risk
    • Types and Evaluation of Capabilities. This can be outlined by program areas, or recommended by authorities, policies, programs, resources, community support/leadership, and the ability to expand/improve.
      • Local Government and Program Areas. Highlight applicability of local authorities, staffing, funding, and planning tools or mechanisms for hazard mitigation. This includes but is not limited to:
        • Form of Government (town council, selectboard, planning board, home rule, MPO, etc.)
        • Planning, Building, Housing - Community Development
        • Transportation, Public Works, Utilities
        • Floodplain Management/Stormwater, Open Space, Land Conservation, Local Forestry
        • Emergency Management
        • Economic (Re-)Development
        • Health
        • GIS (including database, modeling abilities of HAZUS, SLOSH, and planning scenarios)
        • Dam Safety
      • National Flood Insurance Program, CRS
      • Partnerships and Other Community Affiliations, Programs, Resources
    • Integration With Existing Plans and Local Processes (other planning mechanisms)
      • Accomplishments
      • Opportunities and Process for Integration
        • Community Planning Mechanisms or Activities (e.g. next comprehensive plan update)
        • Method and Timeline
    • Capability Needs/Challenges - Summary
  10. Mitigation Strategy
    • Goals (as well as vision and objectives, if available)
    • Development and Update of Strategy and Actions – Methodology
      • Identifying Types of Mitigation Actions (identify preparedness separately or consider in appendix)
        • Existing and New Actions
        • Actions Addressing Existing and Future Development
        • NFIP-related actions
        • Climate Change Adaptation – Future Risk
      • Analysis of Actions – Narrative or Table (describing even those actions not selected to move forward)
      • Prioritization
        • Qualitative or quantitative prioritization method  describing benefits and costs, including to underserved groups and socially vulnerable populations)
    • For Plan Updates: Previous Actions: Meeting Targets and Progress
    • Action Plan
      • Actions Using Risk Assessment Matrix by Vulnerable Area
        • Descriptions
        • Action Type
        • Pre or Post Disaster
        • Priority Level (low, medium, high)
        • Change in Priority (for plan update)
        • Lead Organization
        • Supporting Organization(s)
        • Timeframe
        • Financing Options
        • Cost Estimate
        • Benefit
  11. Moving Towards a Safe, Resilient, and Sustainable Community
    • Evaluation: Progress and Challenges (for plan update)
      • Involvement, Capabilities, Meeting Goals and Targets
      • Changes in Development – Impacts to Risk
      • New Disasters – Changes in Risk
    • Changes in Priorities (for plan update)
    • Success Stories and Best Practices (optional)
  12. References
  13. Jurisdictional Annexes
  14. Appendices
    • Assessing Risk: Maps and Climate Information
    • Building Support: Planning Process Additional Documentation
      • Outreach Strategy and Materials
      • Meeting Summaries, Notes, Sign-In Sheets
      • Invites, Public Meeting Announcements, Web/Ad Postings
      • Surveys, Questionnaires, Evaluations, etc.
    • Capability Assessment (additional documentation, if needed)
    • Emergency/Preparedness Strategy Actions (optional)
    • Final Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool from Approved Plan
    • Glossary
Last updated
Return to top