Local Hazard Mitigation Plan [LHMP]

 

Liquefaction Susceptibility in Oakland - See Hazard Mapper below

 

To reduce risk and increase resilience equitably, the mission of the City of Oakland Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is to establish and promote a comprehensive mitigation strategy and efforts to protect the whole community and environment from identified natural and human-caused hazards. Hazard mitigation reduces the loss of life, property, and environmental damage caused by natural and human-made disasters. The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan consists of long-term and short-term policies, programs, projects, and other activities.

On June 15, 2021, the City of Oakland adopted the 2021-2026 LHMP. The City is developing the 2026 LHMP, and input from the community in this process is essential. The LHMP update is a requirement to maintain certain types of  FEMA funding eligibility. The Oakland Fire Department will oversee the plan update process.

The City of Oakland LHMP outlines profiles for the hazards that the City is most vulnerable to, assesses risks to the city's residents, buildings and critical facilities, and develops mitigation strategies to reduce risk and support disaster recovery. The LHMP considers the impact of climate change for hazards that it addresses:

• Dam Failure or Flooding
• Drought
• Earthquake
• Flooding from Storm
• Public Health: Epidemic or Pandemic
• Severe Weather: Wind, Extreme Cold, Extreme Heat, etc.
• Tsunami/Seiche caused by earthquake shaking
• Wildfire

 Please contact the Emergency Management Services Division at emergencyplanning@oaklandca.gov to join an interest list or for more information.

Read the 2021 LHMP(PDF, 38MB)

2025 Annual LHMP Progress Report

This report is created each year to document progress on mitigation activities conducted by the City as a part of its Mitigation Action Plan. 

Read the 2025 LHMP Progress Report here: 2025-Annual-LHMP-Progress-Report.pdf(PDF, 448KB)

City of Oakland Hazard Mitigation Story Map

Check out Oakland's Hazard Mitigation Story Map website for a visual depiction of the hazards being analyzed as part of the 2021 City of Oakland Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP).

Watch our Video on How to Use the Hazard Risk Story Mapper

Visit Oakland's Hazard Mitigation Story Map!

Related Initiatives

Stay Connected During the Planning Process

All project updates will be posted to this website so that you can easily find and engage with the information that matters to you.

Get More Info

Email questions + comments to EmergencyPlanning@oaklandca.gov

• Sign-up for Emergency Alerts [AC Alert]
• CORE (Communities of Oakland Respond to Emergencies)
• Sign-up for upcoming CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) training

Sign Up for Updates

Sign up for LHMP email updates or scan the QR code at the right.

Background

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) requires local governments to adopt a federally approved Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan in order to receive pre- and post-disaster mitigation funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. The DMA emphasizes planning for disasters before they occur.

For more information about FEMA funding tied to an active/updated Hazard Mitigation Plan, visit FEMA's website.

2021 LHMP Mission, Goals & Objectives

Mission Statement

To equitably reduce risk and increase resilience, the mission of the City of Oakland Local Hazard Mitigation Plan is to establish and promote a comprehensive mitigation strategy and efforts to protect the Whole Community and environment from identified natural and manmade hazards.

Goals

1. Protect life, property, the environment, and natural and cultural resources.
2. Increase public awareness of and the prevention and preparedness for risks.
3. Coordinate with other programs that can support or enhance hazard mitigation.
4. Increase the effectiveness of emergency services provided to the City.
5. Pursue feasible, cost-effective and environmentally-sound hazard mitigation measures.
6. Increase adaptive capacity to reduce risk from hazard impacts based on a changing climate.
7. Reduce racial disparities in how communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from local hazards.

Objectives

1. Reduce repetitive losses due to flood, fire and earthquake by informing land use, design, and construction policies.
2. Identify natural and manmade hazards that threaten life and property in the City.
3. Use best available hazard data while reviewing proposed development opportunities.
4. Encourage the incorporation of hazard mitigation measures into repairs, major alterations, new development, and redevelopment practices, especially in areas subject to substantial hazard risk.
5. Encourage and support leadership within the private sector, non-profit agencies and community-based organizations to promote and implement local hazard mitigation activities.
6. Incorporate risk reduction considerations in new and updated infrastructure and development plans to reduce the impacts of hazards.
7. Continue providing City emergency services staff with training and equipment to address all identified hazards.
8. Develop and provide updated information about threats, hazards, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies to state, regional, and local agencies, as well as private sector and nonprofit groups.
9. Establish and maintain partnerships among all levels of government, private sector, community groups, and institutions of higher learning that improve and implement methods to protect life and property.
10. Create financial and regulatory incentives to motivate stakeholders such as homeowners, private sector businesses, and nonprofit community organizations to mitigate hazards and risk.
11. Continue developing and strengthening inter-jurisdictional coordination and cooperation in the area of emergency services.
12. Support the protection of vital records, and strengthen or replace buildings, infrastructure, and lifelines to minimize post-disaster disruption and facilitate short-term and long-term recovery.
13. Coordinate state and local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and implement climate action strategies through hazard mitigation plans and actions.
14. Implement hazard mitigation programs and projects that protect life, property, and the environment.
15. Promote and implement hazard mitigation plans and projects that are consistent with state, regional and local climate adaptation goals, policies, and programs.
16. Advance community resilience through preparation, adoption, and implementation of state, regional, and local multi-hazard mitigation plans and projects.
17. Prioritize vulnerable populations in policy responses, including but not limited to, low-income individuals and families; people of color; the young; the elderly; people with disabilities; people with existing health issues, and people with limited English proficiency (LEP).