Douglas County Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) Comprehensive Update

Douglas County is seeking qualifications from competent, experienced consultants to update the Douglas County Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan that meets all requirements under Title 44 CFR Part 201.6 (Local Mitigation Plans). Title 44 was last amended in December 2024. The federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) (Public Law 106-390) required state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for federal disaster grant assistance. The federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) promotes proactive pre-disaster planning by making it a condition of receiving financial assistance under the Robert T. Stafford Act. The DMA established a Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program and requirements for the post-disaster Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. Hazard mitigation is defined (see 44 C.F.R. §201.2) as any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards. The purpose of the Plan is to demonstrate the jurisdiction’s commitment to reducing risks from natural hazards, serving as a guide for decision-makers as they commit resources to reducing the effects of natural hazards. Local plans will also serve as the basis for the State to provide technical assistance and to prioritize project funding. A jurisdiction covered by a plan that has expired cannot pursue funding under the Robert T. Stafford Act, for which a current hazard mitigation plan is a prerequisite.The DMA encourages state and local authorities to work together on pre-disaster planning, promoting sustainability as a strategy for disaster resistance. Sustainable hazard mitigation addresses the sound management of natural resources and local economic and social resiliency, and it recognizes that hazards and mitigation must be understood in a broad social and economic context. The planning network called for by the DMA helps local governments articulate accurate needs for mitigation, resulting in faster allocation of funding and more cost-effective risk-reduction projects.Federal regulations require hazard mitigation plans to include a plan for monitoring, evaluating, and updating the hazard mitigation plan. An update provides an opportunity to reevaluate recommendations, monitor the impacts of actions that have been accomplished, and determine if there is a need to change the focus of mitigation strategies.The federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) (Public Law 106-390) required state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for federal disaster grant assistance. Prior to 2000, federal disaster funding focused on disaster relief and recovery, with limited funding for hazard mitigation planning. The DMA increased the emphasis on planning for disasters before they occur. DMA 2000 amended the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (the Act) by repealing the previous mitigation planning section (409) and replacing it with a new mitigation planning section (322). This new section emphasizes the need for state and local entities to closely coordinate mitigation planning and implementation efforts. To implement the DMA 2000 planning requirements, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published an Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002. This rule (Part 201 of Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR 201)) established the mitigation planning requirements for states and local communities, with additional updates occurring thereafter, the most recent taking effect in December 2024.To fulfill this requirement, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office seeks consultant services to update the Douglas County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which meets the requirements of and is approved by the Washington Emergency Management Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The Plan is envisaged to be developed on an ongoing collaborative effort between the full range of stakeholders in the planning area, local authorities, school districts, municipal jurisdictions, fire districts, utility districts, conservation districts, and the State of Washington. As mentioned earlier, this effort will be led by the Douglas County Department of Emergency Management (DC DEM) as all municipal governments within Douglas County's borders fall under the DC DEM's emergency management jurisdiction. Project OverviewThe purpose of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is to provide Douglas County and communities within Douglas County with a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan that meets the requirements and approval of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Washington State Emergency Management Division (WAEMD), so as to ensure that