Safety Element Update and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update
The Safety Element addresses associated Federal and State requirements to identify risks and vulnerabilities from natural and human-made disasters and other emergency events and would establish the strategies for creating a safer and more resilient City. The Safety Element establishes the City’s goals, policies, and programs to reduce the short and long term risk of death, injuries, property damage, and social dislocation due to hazards from the natural and built environment including:
- Geologic hazards, including earthquakes, ground failure, and landslides
- Flooding
- Hazardous materials and waste
- Airport Hazards
- Climate change effects, including sea level rise, droughts, and heat waves
- Fires
The Safety Element Update has been prepared in coordination with the City of Santa Monica's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update. A Local Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies local disaster hazards, assess the possibility of these hazards occurring and estimates potential costs, and identifies actions to mitigate disaster losses. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires plan revisions to be reviewed and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) every five years. Santa Monica’s existing plan was last approved in October 2016. The Santa Monica Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is actively coordinating the City’s process for LHMP updates and mitigation planning efforts, in sync with the Safety Element planning team. For more information, please see the FAQ below.