Safety Element Update

Santa Monica is in the process of updating its Safety Element. The Safety Element Update 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

Project Fact Sheet

Project Fact Sheet (Español)

The Safety Element Update is being prepared in coordination with the City of Santa Monica's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update. For more information, please see the FAQ below.

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshops

The City's Office of Emergency Management will be hosting one virtual and two in-person community workshops on the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update. Find out more about Santa Monica's natural hazards, ask questions, and share your thoughts on how to make Santa Monica a more resilient city!

Virtual Workshop #3 – Tuesday, May 21
Online Presentation in English
7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Register online for meeting link (https://forms.office.com/g/tay96xS6Bi?origin=lprLink)
Click here to register using QR Code

Workshop #1 - Tuesday, April 30
Presented in Spanish, with English translation
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Virginia Avenue Park, Thelma Terry Room
Click for directions

Workshop #2 - Thursday, May 2
Presented in English, with Spanish translation
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Montana Avenue Library, Meeting Room
Click for directions

Contact Us:

310 458 8341
Rachel.Kwok@santamonica.gov

FAQ

Why is the City updating the Safety Element?

The City’s Safety Element was last updated in 1995. Over 20 years have passed and since that time, new information has become available on public safety risks including earthquake faults, climate change effects, and flooding. In addition, the State has established new statutory requirements pertaining to the Safety Element, which include:

SB 379 (2017): Requires the City to address climate adaptation and resiliency through the preparation of a vulnerability assessment or reliance on a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan that addresses climate adaptation risks and vulnerabilities.
SB 1035 (2018): Requires the update of the Safety Element upon adoption of the Housing Element update, which shall be updated at least every eight years to address new requirements and incorporate updated information during this time.
SB 99 (2019): Requires the Safety Element to identify residential developments in any hazard area that do not have at least two emergency evacuation routes.
AB74(2019): Requires Safety Element to be reviewed and updated as necessary to identify evacuation routes and their capacity, safety, and viability under a range of emergency scenarios.

How does the Safety Element relate to other City plans?

The Safety Element is one of the State-required components of the City’s General Plan. State law requires that the Safety Element be consistent with other General Plan Elements, including the Housing Element and the Land Use and Circulation Elements. The Safety Element is intended to complement, and not compete with, the other General Plan Elements. As an example, the policies in the Safety Element establish the policies and programs necessary to ensure that new housing sites as planned for in the Housing Element are protected from earthquake hazards.

The Safety Element will be updated concurrently with the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) 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. The Safety Element will integrate the risk reduction and emergency response strategies identified in the LHMP.

The Safety Element and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan updates will complement and build upon the adaptation strategies in the City’s adopted 2019 Climate Action and Adaptation Plan (CAAP) as well as the City’s Local Coastal Plan to provide an integrated approach to building a safe and resilient community.

What is the timeline for updating the Safety Element?

Project Initiation/Community Outreach - Spring 2023

Prepare Draft - Summer 2023

Public Draft - Fall 2023

Adoption - Winter 2023

How can the public be involved and stay informed?

Sign up for updates at Rachel.Kwok@santamonica.gov or continue to check this webpage at www.santamonica.gov/Safety-Element-Update

How do I know if my property is located in a designated hazard area?

Please visit the City's GIS maps application to determine if your property is located in an earthquake fault zone, flood zone, tsunami risk area, or liquefaction area. Click on "Community Layers" and "Environmental" to see the maps available.

Safety Element Update

Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Workshops

Safety Element and Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Update Survey

Past Events/Meetings

Contact Us: