Hazard Mitigation Planning Project
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Mitigation refers to any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property. Mitigation is an integral part of CRESA’s comprehensive emergency management program. We coordinate the efforts of Clark County, it’s cities, and other stakeholders in planning and implementing hazard mitigation. We don’t have to live in fear of disasters. There are practical things we can do now to reduce their impacts. Through public education, responsible development, building retrofits, property buy-outs, and other strategies we can make our community safer so that when disasters happen they are less likely to result in death, damage, and disruption.
A hazard mitigation plan is the foundation of a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.
2022/2023 Draft Clark County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan
CRESA is working with our partners to update the Hazard Mitigation Plan for Clark County, its seven cities, and other participating agencies. This plan identifies how each agency will take action in advance of a disaster to reduce disaster risks. The 2022/2023 plan update, impacted by the COVID 19 response, formally began in Spring 2022 and will be complete in Spring 2023. The public comment period will take place from November 7th, 2022 through December 9th 2022. Comments can be directed to Scott Johnson, at scott.johnson@clark.wa.gov
2022/2023 Draft Clark County Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan:
Volume 1 Planning Area – Wide Elements
Volume 2 Planning Partner Annexes
Learn more about hazard mitigation.
Planning Partners
| Clark County City of Battle Ground City of Camas City of La Center City of Ridgefield City of Vancouver City of Washougal Town of Yacolt Vancouver School District |
Clark Public Utilities Port of Vancouver C-TRAN Clark Regional Wastewater District Battle Ground Public Schools Evergreen Public Schools Ridgefield School District Clark County Fire District 3 |
Planning Process
When it’s complete, a hazard mitigation plan should reflect a community consensus on how we will work together over several years to reduce our risks from natural disasters. Here are the key steps in the planning process that ensure that we achieve consensus, involve stakeholders, and meet planning requirements:
1. Organize stakeholders – Identify the best representatives from local government, non-profits, private sector, the public, and other stakeholders.
2. Involve the public – Provide multiple pathways for the public to get involved including messaging CRESA directly, through planning partners or via social media
3. Assess risks – Develop a hazard profile for the hazards of concern such as floods, earthquakes, and storms. Where do they occur? How often? Identify resources and people at risk.
4. Develop mitigation goals, objectives, and actions – Determine how we will reduce the risks that were identified in the risk assessment.
5. Assemble the plan and get approvals – The plan must be approved by the Washington State Emergency Management Division and FEMA and then be adopted by local jurisdictions.
6. Implement the plan and monitor progress – Put the plan into action.
