FEMA Region IX: Mitigation Division

What are you looking for?

• Region 9 Risk Mapping, Assessment and Planning (Risk MAP)
• National Flood Insurance Program
• Earthquake Program
• Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation Program

Key Partners

Association of Bay Area Governments

ABAG was created by local governments to meet their planning and research needs related to land use, environmental and water resource protection, disaster resilience, energy efficiency and hazardous waste mitigation, and to provide risk management, financial services and staff training to local counties, cities and towns.

FloodSmart

Use this website to gather information on the National Flood Insurance Program and become more flood aware and prepared.

MyHazards

Use this website to discover the hazards that exist in your area and learn how to reduce YOUR risk! Remember, the best way to recover from disasters is by reducing the risks before a disaster strikes.

Flood Aware

Learn more about the Flood Aware project aims at raising flood risk awareness with citizens and SME's and at making these groups more resilient.

Earthquake Country Alliance

ECA provides information and resources to help everyone who lives, works, or travels in earthquake country get prepared to survive and recover quickly, by following the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety.

ShakeOut

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drills are an annual opportunity for people in homes, schools, and organizations to practice what to do during earthquakes, and to improve preparedness.

Mitigation Division

This page introduces FEMA's Region IX Mitigation Division. The Mitigation Division consists of three branches: Risk Analysis, Floodplain Management and Insurance and Hazard Mitigation Assistance.

Our Mission:
Working in partnership to support sustainable, disaster-resilient communities, to avoid or reduce the loss of life, loss of property, and financial impact of hazards.

Our Vision:
A Nation committed to a disaster-resilient and sustainable future.

Who We Are:
The Region 9 Mitigation Division primarily serves the western states, territories, and tribal nations.  These areas include Arizona, American Samoa, California, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, and Tribal Nations within the western borders. We are committed to excellent customer service through solid partnerships with our state, local, and tribal counterparts. 

What We Do:
Mitigation creates safer communities by reducing losses of life and property; enables individuals and communities to recover more rapidly from disasters; and lessens the financial impact of disasters on the Federal Treasury, States, Tribes, and communities.

The programs within the Mitigation Division are designed to reduce future losses to homes, businesses, schools, public buildings, and critical facilities from floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters.  The three branches within the Mitigation Division include:

 

Informative Links:
• Answers to Questions about the National Flood Insurance Program
• Flood Insurance Reform
• FloodSmart
• Map Service Center
• National Flood Insurance Program

Mitigation Division Director:
Jeffrey D. Lusk
(510) 627-7116
Jeffrey.Lusk@fema.dhs.gov

Mitigation Division Executive Assistant:
Tracy Walton
(510) 627-7162
Tracy.Walton@fema.dhs.gov

Risk Analysis Branch

The Risk Analysis Branch (RAB) promotes disaster resilience by enabling individuals and communities to recover more rapidly from floods and other disasters through effective risk analysis and hazard mitigation planning.  RAB applies engineering and planning practices in conjunction with advanced technology tools to identify hazards, assess vulnerabilities, and develop strategies to manage the risks associated with natural hazards. Mitigation begins with a thorough assessment of the potential and actual impact a natural disaster could (or did) have on a particular community.

RAB Branch Chief:
Juliette Hayes
(510) 627-7211
Juliette.Hayes@fema.dhs.gov

Informative Links:
• California Coastal Analysis and Mapping Project
• Coastal Flood Risk Study Process
• HAZUS-MH
• National Dam Safety Program
• National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
• Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning

Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch

Close-up photo of hot lava from Kilauea Puu Oo lava flow near Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii Download Original

The Hazard Mitigation Assistance Branch (HMA) supports our State and local partners in reducing the impact of natural hazards by funding mitigation activities that strengthen community resilience to disasters.  HMA coordinates grant programs with unique statutory authorities, program requirements, and triggers for funding.  The programs are the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM), and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA). While the statutory origins of the programs differ, all share a common goal to assist state and local communities in their efforts to reduce the loss of life and property from natural hazard events.  

 

 

 

HMA Branch Chief:
Robert McCord
(510) 627-7059
robert.mccord@fema.dhs.gov

Informative Links:
• Flood Mitigation Assistance
• Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
• Pre-Disaster Mitigation

Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch

A federal Disaster Declaration was signed on January 8, 2008 because flooding of approximately 200 homes occurred as result of a break in this rain filled drainage canal Download Original

The Floodplain Management and Insurance Branch (FM&I) helps to reduce flood losses by encouraging communities to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through adoption and enforcement of local floodplain management programs.  These programs mitigate the effects of flood damage on new and existing developments and make affordable flood insurance coverage available to property owners throughout the community.  These programs focus on state and local building codes and zoning regulations to assure that new development and substantial improvements located in a floodplain are constructed to prevent or minimize future flood damage. 

The FM&I Branch also manages the provision of floodplain management and insurance training programs and outreach efforts for State and community officials, insurance agents, lenders, property owners, and other stakeholders throughout the region. 

FM&I Branch Chief:
Gregor Blackburn
(510) 627-7186
Gregor.Blackburn@fema.dhs.gov

Informative Links:
• Community Rating System
• Floodplain Management
• National Flood Insurance Program

National Flood Insurance Program

A white compact car sits hubcap deep in a street in central Phoenix during flooding Sept. 8, 2014 Download Original

The goal of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is to reduce the impact of flooding on private and public structures by providing affordable insurance for property owners.  The program encourages communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations, which mitigates the effects of flooding on new and improved structures.  The NFIP helps communities reduce the socio-economic impact of disasters by promoting the purchase and retention of both Risk Insurance and National Flood Insurance.

 

 

NFIP Specialist:
Edith Lohmann
(510) 627-7235
Edith.Lohmann@fema.dhs.gov

 

 

What are you looking for?

FEMA Region 9 Contacts

FEMA employment opportunities

Private Sector

National Preparedness

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