Help Oakland Become More Resilient to Natural Hazards

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).