The City of Rohnert Park 2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plantwxt
Disasters can cause loss of life, damage buildings and infrastructure, and have devastating consequences for a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being.  Hazard mitigation planning is the process used by state, local and tribal leaders to understand risks from natural hazards and develop long-term strategies to reduce the impacts of disasters on people, property, and the environment. 
Hazard mitigation is best accomplished when based on a comprehensive, long-term plan developed before a disaster strikes. Mitigation planning is the process used by state, tribal, and local leaders to understand risks from natural hazards and develop long-term strategies that will reduce the impacts of future events on people, property, and the environment.

 

What is a Hazard Mitigation Plan?

A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is a five-year strategic plan that identifies natural hazards and vulnerabilities. These are analyzed to see how they could affect the city and to identify actions that reduce their impacts. The plan will lead to a safer Rohnert Park. 

The City of Rohnert Park's LHMP was reviewed by CalOES in 2018. The previous draft approved by City Council required revisions to meet CalOES standards. As of early 2019, the plan has been revised and conditionally approved by CalOES and FEMA. In order to be fully approved, the revisions to the plan will need to be re-approved by City Council. As well, the General Plan will need to be amended to  have AB 2140 compliance. In the links below, you can learn more about AB 2140 and what it means for the City of Rohnert Park. 

How is it Different to Emergency Preparedness?

Both Hazard Mitigation and Emergency Preparedness are vitally important to protecting lives and property in the event of a natural hazard or disaster. But there are key differences:
  • Hazard mitigation is proactive, whereas emergency preparedness is often reactive.
  • Hazard mitigation develops actions to reduce or eliminate risk from future hazard events, while emergency preparedness establishes overall concepts to respond to hazard events in the immediate lead up, during, and after a hazard event has occurred.
  • Hazard mitigation is a process where steps are recommended to guide a city or jurisdiction in ways that protect public safety, reduce harm to existing and future development, and prevent damage to a community's economic, cultural, and environmental assets. 

Mapping

One of the key components of hazard mitigation planning is the identification of potential natural hazards and how they may affect the city. An important tool in this process is mapping. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), areas that may be vulnerable to specific risks can be delineated, and critical facilities in those areas can be identified.

Please click on the links below to view the various maps in the LHMP:
2005 Flood Event - Mobile Home Parks
2005 Flood Event
Critical Facilities
Fault Zone
FEMA Flood Hazard Areas 
Historic Fires - Pre 2017
Landslide Risk
Liquefaction Risk
October 2017 Fire Event
Shaking Probability 
Transportation Network 

Have any questions? Please contact the Planning Department!

Primary Contact 
Jeffrey Beiswenger 
Planning Manager
(707) - 588 - 2253
[email protected]