Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Management is updating the Santa Clara County Multijurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to assess the risks and vulnerabilities of local hazards on residents and community assets. By doing so, the County and its participating jurisdictions commit to reducing the effects of disasters through long-term actions that reduce impacts on people and property. Valley Water is seeking public comment on the Draft of this plan (Base Plan and jurisdictional annexes) found on the County of Santa Clara Office of Emergency Management website.

If you want to comment on the Draft, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/MJHMPComments. The public comment period will be open until July 28, 2023. 

To learn more about what YOU can do to better prepare your family and home for disasters, please visit www.ready.gov/.

For any questions, feel free to contact Juan Ledesma at [email protected]

About this project

Hazard Mitigation planning is the process through which hazards that threaten communities are identified, likely impacts of those hazards are determined, mitigation goals are set, and appropriate strategies to lessen impacts are determined, prioritized, and implemented.

Valley Water has updated its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and received approval of the plan from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The FEMA approval is for a period of 5 years (May 2, 2018 – May 2, 2023)

The district will review and report status on its LHMP annually.

• Download the 2022 LHMP Annual Report
• Download the 2021 LHMP Annual Report
• Download the 2020 LHMP Annual Report

Environmental & Community Benefit

Disasters can cause loss of life; damage buildings and infrastructure; and have devastating consequences for a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Proactive mitigation policies and actions help to:

• Protect public safety and prevent loss of life and injury.
• Reduce harm to existing and future development.
• Prevent damage to a community’s unique economic, cultural, and environmental assets.
• Minimize operational downtime and accelerate recovery of government and business after disasters.
• Help accomplish other community objectives, such as leveraging capital improvements, infrastructure protection, open space preservation, and economic resiliency.

A FEMA approved LHMP ensures the Santa Clara Valley Water District’s continued eligibility for project grants under FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs, including the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program, and Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.

History & Background

The purpose of the Stafford Act, as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, is “to reduce the loss of life and property, human suffering, economic disruption, and disaster assistance costs resulting from natural disasters.” Section 322 of the Act specifically addresses mitigation planning and requires state and local governments to prepare multi-hazard mitigation plans as a precondition for receiving FEMA mitigation project grants.

To qualify for FEMA approval and eligibility to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs, the Santa Clara Valley Water District must review and revise its existing Local Hazard Mitigation Plan to meet the requirements of Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §201.6; reflect changes in development, progress in local mitigation efforts, changes in priorities; and resubmit it for FEMA approval not less than every 5 years.

For more information

Juan Ledesma, Program Administrator Supervisor, Office of Emergency Services, (408) 265-2600, x3172, or email: [email protected]