8.1. Review of the Plan

When you have completed a final draft of the plan, sharing it for public feedback is the next step. It may also be a good idea to publish individual sections of the plan, as completed, and hold listening sessions to get input and feedback. Breaking the plan into manageable chunks will make it easier for the public to understand and provide feedback. This can also help to get real-time feedback, rather than waiting for the entire plan to be completed. The planning team can ask stakeholders and the public to review and submit comments for the team’s final consideration. If asked to do so, the state and FEMA can also provide feedback to make the review and approval process faster, with fewer required revisions at the end of the planning process.

A good approach provides the public with enough time to comment and explains how comments will be used. Your approach should also make sure the public knows how the plan will impact their community. Let your partners and the public know about this chance to comment early in the process. The public comment period needs to happen before you send the plan to the state and FEMA for official approval.

You may also directly inform certain stakeholders of the comment period through an email or letter. This is a good way to give neighboring jurisdictions outside of the planning area an opportunity to review the mitigation plan. Keep in mind that neighboring jurisdictions should be involved throughout the planning process, rather than just being given a chance to comment at the end of the plan’s development. Sending targeted messaging about the public comment period to representatives of underserved groups and socially vulnerable populations and their advocates is a best practice. Summarizing the types of comments received and how they were incorporated acknowledges their usefulness and encourages future input.

Before sending the plan to the SHMO, the planning team should make sure it meets all the requirements stated in The Guide. FEMA uses the Plan Review Tool to ensure plans meet these requirements. Review the regulation checklist in the Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool and fill in the sections or page numbers to show where your plan meets each required element. This can be a final internal review before submitting it to the state. Annex C provides a copy of the Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool.

Once the planning team is sure the plan meets the required elements and includes all supporting documentation, send the plan to your SHMO or State Mitigation Planner. Include all supporting documentation related to the planning process and other components of the plan. Incomplete plan submittals can delay plan approval. The state will review the plan and work with you on any revisions required for approval. Don’t forget to provide information on how you can be reached for any questions.

Once the state is satisfied that the plan meets the requirements, the SHMO will send the plan to the FEMA Regional Office for review and approval, unless the state has been given local plan approval authority. FEMA will conduct its review within 45 days, if possible. FEMA will then give the state a completed Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool. The FEMA Regional Office and the state may contact you if revisions are needed to meet the federal regulation and policy requirements. If revisions are required, you may request a technical assistance call with FEMA to talk through the required revisions. Once the plan meets the regulations, FEMA will notify the SHMO that the plan is approvable pending adoption (APA) and will send you a letter (hard copy and email) notifying you the plan’s status is now APA. If the community has already adopted the mitigation plan, FEMA will consider it approved. Figure 19 shows the plan review and approval process, and how to adopt the plan prior to state and FEMA review.