Tag: Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan

Developing a deep fascination of a NHMP

Posted on by Julia Havens

Stacy Ludington Jefferson County Community Planning Workshop University of Oregon When the projects were reveled for the 2013 Community Planning Workshop (CPW), I saw that there was one to update a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). I didn’t know what an NHMP was, but I have always had a deep fascination for the power of nature. I am the kind of person who goes onto the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) earthquake page for fun, and who looks up maps of past lahar flows and 100 year floodplains to make sure the house I’m about to rent isn’t located in dangers way. I jumped at the NHMP opportunity!

I quickly learned that an NHMP is a plan that FEMA requires communities to update every five-years in order to remain eligible for federal mitigation funds. I also learned that mitigation is any action that can reduce the impact of natural hazards on a community. NHMPs look at a community’s level of vulnerability to natural hazards (for example: though looking at those floodplain maps I strangely enjoy so much), and probability of a hazard occurring. Knowing a community’s vulnerability and probability to a natural hazard gives us the level of risk a particular hazard poses. This knowledge is then used to develop mitigation action items to reduce the impact of hazards on the community. This can include anything from education to removing dead tree branches around power lines.

Our CPW project was to update the NHMP for Jefferson County in eastern Oregon (another reason I chose this project: to see some sunshine during the Oregon winter). A steering committee was assembled for the CPW team composing of people from community development, Fire and Rescue, community volunteers, and many more. They were extremely knowledgeable about the hazards their community had faced and were no strangers to hazard mitigation. Because of their past NHMP, they had received funding to move their city hall out of the floodplain. It was our job to update the document so they would still be eligible for additional projects.

The CPW team held a total of four county wide meetings to discuss the role of the steering committee, assess the risk that the county faces, develop action items, and discuss implementation and upkeep of the plan. We also held separate meetings with the cities of Madras and Metolius to develop action items specific to their community needs. My role extended to a summer internship with the Community Service Center where I continued working on the NHMP with Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience (OPDR). The NHMP was submitted to FEMA this past October with approval of the plan earlier this month (December). This project was really enjoyable for me and I learned a great deal about the NHMP process, what makes a good plan, and about working steering committees.

Community Planning Workshop Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience CPW OPDR Stacy Ludington

Stacy Ludington is a second year Master of Community and Regional Planning student at the University of Oregon, who plans to graduate in June of 2014. She is focusing on how the impacts of climate change affects how we plan communities, particularly climate related natural disasters. Originally from the east coast, she’s loving all that Oregon has to offer and plans to stay on the “left” coast after graduation. 

 

Proactive NOT Reactive by Robert Morris

Posted on by Admin

Proactive NOT Reactive by Robert Morris

Natural disasters are always unpredictable, and can cause significant damage to communities. Proactive planning is necessary to mitigate the impact of hazards and can reduce loss of life and property from natural hazard events. Natural Hazard Planning is a formalized approach designed to reduce the risk of natural hazards as they impact communities.

The Community Planning Workshop provides students the opportunity to further enhance their knowledge in community-integrated projects, networking and professional development. This term, I have been working with a student team responsible for updating a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP) for Jefferson County, Oregon to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In order for local jurisdictions to receive funding from FEMA, they are required to maintain and update a National Hazards Mitigation Plan every five years.

For the last two terms, I have had the opportunity to meet with various city officials through stakeholder interviews and by leading three steering committee meetings. This experience has taught me the importance of understanding working within a community, as well as the attention to detail that is required to engage in a successful public involvement process.

This project has given me pride in my ability to contribute to a collaborative process that produces a tangible document, which will be used by the community as a reference and guideline for mitigating community risk to hazard. By undertaking and implementing mitigation plan actions, and working closely with knowledgeable professionals (steering committee members), the hazard mitigation plan will reduce the potential threat to people and property from future hazardous events.

Robert Morris Bio: 1st Year Community and Regional Planning Masters candidate. I am from Pennants, Jamaica. My background is in architecture and I am now interested in what solutions can recycling opportunities offer with regards to the growing problem of homelessness.

Meet our Students: Robert Morris / Community and Regional Planning

More about the Community Planning Workshop(CPW)