ODPS Ohio Emergency Management Agency Hazard Mitigation Planning

Hazard Mitigation Planning

The Mitigation Branch develops and maintains a comprehensive state and local mitigation program to reduce damage and save lives from natural disasters that impact the state of Ohio and its residents. Other responsibilities include:

• Developing and maintaining the State Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Provides training and technical assistance to local communities for their Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) development
• Reviews the LHMP prior to their submittal to FEMA for acceptance

A hazard mitigation plan is a strategic/guidance document used by an entity to reduce future risk to life and property. A hazard mitigation plan has the following elements:

• A public participation process for bringing together diverse stakeholders in the jurisdiction to provide an array of input into the plan;
• A risk assessment to identify the hazards, determine what is subject to those hazards, and how vulnerable the jurisdiction is to those hazards;
• A mitigation strategy that contains goals, objectives and an action plan to implement priority mitigation actions;
• A maintenance process to ensure the plan is reviewed, updated and does not sit idle; and,
• An adoption requirement to ensure the jurisdiction is supportive of the plan.

Currently, Ohio is a national leader in LHMP development. All 88 counties either have FEMA approved LHMPs or are in the process of developing their LHMP. For more information on which communities are covered under a county LHMP, please contact the appropriate county EMA office or the Mitigation Branch at Ohio EMA.

Additional Resources

• 2008 State of Ohio Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Ohio LHMP Status Report
• Local Multi-hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance
• HAZUS-MH
• All Natural Hazards Mitigation Planning Guidebook
• Crosswalk for Local Plan Review and Approval (.doc) (.pdf)
• FEMA Planning Resources, including How To Guides