Del Norte 
County
Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2025

What Is Hazard Mitigation?

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Hazard mitigation describes actions, projects and policies that reduce or eliminate long-term risks caused by hazards, such as floods, wildfires, and earthquakes. The ultimate goal of hazard mitigation is to reduce loss of life and property, lessening the impact of disasters. Hazard mitigation planning begins with a jurisdiction identifying their natural disaster risks and vulnerabilities. After identifying these risks, they develop long-term strategies for protecting people and property from similar events. Mitigation plans are key to breaking the cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction.

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Hazard mitigation is best accomplished when it is based on a comprehensive, long-term plan that developed before a disaster strikes. Hazard mitigation plans provide FEMA estimates that the United States saves "$6 in future disaster costs for every $1 spent on hazard mitigation." For this reason, FEMA requires that State, local, tribal, and territorial governments update their Hazard Mitigation Plans every five years to maintain eligibility for certain grant funding. 

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Benefits of hazard mitigation planning include:

1. Identifying areas for risk reduction.

2. Focus on the greatest risks and vulnerabilities within a community.

3. Building partnerships through the involvement of residents, organizations, and businesses in mitigation planning.

4. Increasing public education and awareness of threats and hazards.

5. Communicating priorities to state and federal officials.

6. Aligning risk reduction with other community objectives.

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The County's previous Hazard Mitigation Plan was completed in 2019, and included ten participating planning partners. The 2019 area-wide base plan can can be viewed here. ​Planning Partner annexes to the 2019 plan can be viewed here.

 

Del Norte County sought and was awarded Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding in 2023 to fund the development of the plan update. The planning process began in early 2024, and the final Hazard Mitigation Plan update is expected to be completed in the summer of 2025. Once completed, community feedback on the plan will be solicited. Once adopted, the 2025 plan will remain on this web page for community members to track the progress of identified hazard mitigation projects. 

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The ten Planning Partners that will have annexes included in the 2025 MJHMP update include:

• Big Rock Community Service District

• The City of Crescent City

• Crescent City Fire and Rescue

• Elk Valley Rancheria

• Gasquet Community Service District

• Hussey Ranch Community Service District

• Klamath Community Service District

• Smith River Community Service District

• Smith River Fire and Rescue

• Unincorporated Del Norte County

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The six Hazards of Concern that will be addressed in the 2025 plan include:

• Earthquake 

• Flood (coastal, riverine, and small stream)

• Landslide

• Sea level rise

• Tsunami

• Wildfire

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