Public Input Needed on Water Supply, Flood Protection, and Sanitation Disaster Planning
April 13, 2018 - For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Ann DuBay, 707.524.8378 (office), 707.322.8185 (cell), Ann.Dubay@scwa.ca.gov
                       
(SANTA ROSA) – The Sonoma County Water Agency (Water Agency) has released a draft of its updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) that creates a blueprint for reducing the damage to the Water Agency’s infrastructure from natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, fires, and earthquakes. Members of the public are invited to submit comments on the draft LHMP during the 30-day public comment period that opens on April 18, 2018. To review the LHMP and provide input, visit: www.sonomacountywater.org/secureourwater/.
 
An LHMP forms the foundation for a community’s long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. The planning process includes public and stakeholder involvement. The Sonoma County Water Agency is working with its stakeholders to complete an update of the 2013 LHMP.
 
The Water Agency must update its LHMP every five years to ensure it remains relevant to current events and system conditions and to meet requirements set forth by FEMA. In particular, staff has reviewed the Water Agency’s vulnerabilities and risks, as well as the prioritized listing of hazard mitigation actions.
 
LHMPs are public documents that create a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damage to lives, property, and the economy from future disasters, such as earthquakes, fires, and floods. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) utilizes LHMPs to issue grant funding for pre-disaster and hazard mitigation actions.
 
In 2004 the Sonoma County Water Agency initiated a natural hazard assessment, which was instrumental in creating the Water Agency’s first LHMP in 2008. This LHMP was updated in 2013, and includes a priority listing of hazard mitigation actions.
 
If you are interested in following the LHMP preparation, approval, and adoption process or providing input, visit: www.sonomacountywater.org/secureourwater/. All LHMP drafts for public review, staff reports, public hearing notices, hazard maps, etc., will be posted for public review on this page.
You can submit questions or comments by sending an email to LHMP@scwa.ca.gov.
 
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The Sonoma County Water Agency is working to secure our future by investing in our water resources, community and environment.  The Water Agency provides water supply, flood protection and sanitation services for portions of Sonoma and Marin counties. Visit us on the Web at www.sonomacountywater.org.
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