Hazard Mitigation Plans provide communities with an opportunity to assess their vulnerability to multiple types of natural hazards, evaluate the effectiveness of existing mitigation measures and develop a set of prioritized recommendations for additional mitigation measures in the future. These plans are encouraged by FEMA, and are required for communities to maintain their eligibility for several FEMA grant programs.
In Massachusetts the Regional Planning Agencies have been contracted by MEMA to produce Regional Hazard Mitigation Plans for their member communities. MAPC has been contracted by MEMA to produce plans for 92 communities, and two more were produced by the Old Colony Planning Council. Once the plans have been approved by FEMA, they must be formally adopted by cities and towns. Adopted plans are considered effective for five years, after which they must be updated and readopted to maintain eligibility for FEMA grants.
Once communities have adopted their Hazard Mitigation Plans, they should work to implement the priority actions and project recommendations in their plans. These may include structural projects such as drainage system upgrades, or non-structural measures such as amended flood plain or storm water bylaws.
Many aspects of Hazard Mitigation plans are closely related to other municipal policies and functions. For maximum effectiveness and implementation, key recommendations of the plans should be integrated into existing and ongoing local programs.
Incorporate the relevant recommendations of PDM plans into local capital improvement programs, comprehensive plans, and public works programs.
4.a All municipalities should adopt FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plans and update them every five years
4.b Municipalities should maintain a local team to oversee implementation of Hazard Mitigation Plans recommendations and prepare updates
4.c Regional hazard mitigation teams should continue to meet in order to follow up on the regional and inter-community recommendations for hazard mitigation
4.d Municipalities should incorporate the relevant recommendations of their Hazard Mitigation Plans into comprehensive plans, open space plans, public works programs, and capital improvement programs