3.1.1    Adoption by the Local Governing Body

Requirement §201.6(c)(5)  [The local hazard mitigation plan shall include] documentation that the plan has been formally adopted by the governing body of the jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan (e.g., City Council, County Commissioner, Tribal Council)…

3.1.2      Multi-jurisdictional Plan Adoption

Requirement §201.6(c)(5)  For multi-jurisdictional plans, each jurisdiction requesting approval of the plan must document that it has been formally adopted.

3.1.3      Multi-jurisdictional Participation

Requirement §201.6(a)(3)  Multi-jurisdictional plans (e.g., watershed plans) may be accepted, as appropriate, as long as each jurisdiction has participated in the process…  Statewide plans will not be accepted as multi-jurisdictional plans.

A.       Does the plan identify how each jurisdiction participated in the plan’s development? 

3.2.1    Documentation of the Planning Process

Requirement §201.6(c)(1): [The plan must document] the planning process used to develop the plan, including how it was prepared, who was involved in the process, and how the public was involved.

Satisfactory Criteria Requirements:

A.    Does the plan provide a narrative description that explains the plan’s development process, including who led the development at the staff level and any external contributors such as contractors?

B.    Does the plan list who was involved and how they contributed to the planning process? (e.g., participated on plan committee, provided information, reviewed drafts)

3.3.1   Identifying Hazards

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i):  [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the type … of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction…

Satisfactory Criteria Requirements:

A.        Does the plan include a description of the types of all natural hazards that affect the jurisdiction?  DESCRIPTION - explain the characteristics of each hazard (e.g. for flooding hazard, is it coastal, riverine, stormwater)

        ALL NATURAL HAZARDS - all probable hazards.  For northwest communities, hazards include flood, earthquake, wind, and fire, and, possibly, tsunami, volcano, winter storms.  Human-caused hazards (HAZMAT, Terrorism) may also be identified in the plan, but are not required.

3.3.2   Profiling Hazard Events

Requirement §201.6(c)(2)(i):  [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the … location and extent of all natural hazards that can affect the jurisdiction.  The plan shall include information on previous occurrences of hazard events and on the probability of future hazard events.

Satisfactory Criteria Requirements:

A.       Does the risk assessment identify the location of each hazard being addressed in the plan?

B.     Does the risk assessment identify the extent of each hazard being addressed in the plan?

C.     Does the plan provide information on the previous occurrences of each natural hazard?

        Previous occurrences - Any commonly known history occurrences should be included, and all disasters that resulted in a local, state or federal disaster declaration.

        Information - narrative or table format with known and available details (e.g. location, losses)

3.3.3   Assessing Vulnerability:  Identifying Assets

Requirement §201.6(c)(2) (ii)(A):  [The risk assessment shall include a] description of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to the hazards described in paragraph (c)(2)(i) of this section.  This description shall include an overall summary of each hazard and its impact on the community.  The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of:§  The types and numbers of existing and future buildings, infrastructure, and critical facilities located in the identified hazard areas…

Satisfactory Criteria Requirements:

A.       Does the plan include an overall summary description of the jurisdiction’s vulnerability to the hazards?

B.     Does the plan address the impacts of the hazards on the community?

3.3.4   Assessing Vulnerability:  Estimating Potential Losses

Requirement §201.6(c)(2) (ii)(B):  [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of an] estimate of the potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures identified in paragraph (c)(2)(i)(A) of this section and a description of the methodology used to prepare the estimate…

Satisfactory Criteria Requirement:

A.        Does the plan estimate potential dollar losses to vulnerable structures?

 THIS CRITERIA NOT REQUIRED

3.3.5     Assessing Vulnerability: Analyzing Development Trends

Requirement §201.6(c)(2) (ii)(c):  [The plan should describe vulnerability in terms of providing a general description of land uses and development trends within the community so that mitigation options can be considered in future land use decisions.

Satisfactory Criteria Requirement:

A.       Does the plan describe future land use and development trends?

 THIS CRITERIA NOT REQUIRED

3.3.6     Multi-Jurisdictional Risk Assessment 

Satisfactory Criteria Requirement:

A.  Does the plan include a risk assessment for each participating jurisdiction as needed to reflect unique or varied risks?

3.4.1   Local Hazard Mitigation Goals

Requirement §201.6(c)(3)(i):  [The hazard mitigation strategy shall include: a] description of mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.

Satisfactory Criteria Requirement:

A.       Does the plan include a description of mitigation goals?

GOALS - are general guidelines that explain what the community wants to achieve.  Goals are usually long-term and represent global visions, such as “eliminate flood damage.”

3.4.2      Identification and Analysis of Mitigation Measures

Requirement §201.6(c)(3) (ii):  [The mitigation strategy shall include a] section that identifies and analyzes a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects being considered to reduce the effects of each hazard, with particular emphasis on new and existing buildings and infrastructure

Satisfactory Criteria Requirement:

A.       Does the plan identify a comprehensive range of specific mitigation actions and projects for each hazard?

B.     Does the identified range of mitigation actions and projects include an approach to reduce the effects of hazards on new  buildings and infrastructure?

C.     Does the identified range of mitigation actions and projects include an approach to reduce the effects of hazards on existing buildings and infrastructure?

3.4.3     Implementation of Mitigation Measures

Requirement: §201.6(c)(3) (iii):            [The mitigation strategy section shall include] an action plan describing how the actions identified in section (c)(3)(ii) will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction.  Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized according to a cost benefit review of the proposed projects and their associated costs.

A.       Does the mitigation strategy include how the actions will be prioritized?

B.      Does the mitigation strategy address how the actions will be implemented? (i.e. existing resources and potential future resources)

C.      Does the mitigation strategy address how the actions will be administered?

D.       Does the mitigation strategy reflect an emphasis on the use of cost-benefit analysis?

3.4.4     Multi-jurisdictional Mitigation Strategy

Requirement §201.6(c)(3) (iv):  For multi-jurisdictional plans, there must be identifiable action items specific to the jurisdiction requesting FEMA approval or credit of the plan.

3.5.1   Monitoring, Evaluating, and Updating the Plan

Requirement §201.6(c)(4)(i):     [The plan maintenance process shall include a section describing the] method and schedule of monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan within a five-year cycle.

A.       Does the plan describe the method for monitoring the plan?  (i.e. both staff position responsible for monitoring and the department overseeing the monitoring)

B.       Does the plan describe a schedule for monitoring, evaluating, and updating the plan within the five-year cycle?

3.5.2     Implementation Through Existing Programs

Requirement §201.6(c)(4) (ii):         [The plan shall include a] process by which local governments incorporate the requirements of the mitigation plan into other planning mechanisms such as comprehensive or capital improvement plans, when appropriate…

Satisfactory Criteria Requirements:

A.      Does the plan identify other local planning mechanisms available for incorporating the requirements of the mitigation plan?

B.       Does the plan include a process by which the local government will incorporate the requirements in other plans, when appropriate?

3.5.3     Continued Public Involvement

Requirement §201.6(c)(4) (iii):  [The plan maintenance process shall include a] discussion on how the community will continue public participation in the plan maintenance process.

A.       Does the plan explain how continued public participation will be obtained? (e.g., public notices, an on-going mitigation plan committee, annual review meeting with stakeholders).