Hazard Mitigation

Definition

Percent of local governments that have participated in the development of and adopted the current local or regional hazard mitigation plan

Why is it Important?

The effects of hazards such as tornadoes, floods, and severe weather can be reduced, and sometimes even eliminated, through hazard mitigation efforts. Hazard mitigation efforts are any actions that reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property. Hazard mitigation plans address natural hazards that have the potential to affect an area and identify strategies to reduce those threats. In populous Missouri regions, such as the St. Louis region, one mitigation plan is written for the entire region. Counties, cities, and school districts are then responsible for voluntarily adopting the plan. In Illinois, jurisdictions work with their respective counties to produce hazard mitigation plans.

Since 2004, federal law has required local hazard mitigation plans in order for local governments to be eligible for hazard mitigation grant funding through FEMA. Each hazard mitigation plan lasts for five years, after which it must be updated to ensure that plans stay relevant and current. According to FEMA, a local jurisdiction is covered by the plan if they participate in the development of the plan and adopt the plan via resolution. Note, this eligibility for hazard mitigation grant funding does not impact disaster relief funding in the event of a disaster declaration.

How are we Doing?

In the St. Louis region, the percent of local governments (cities and counties) that are covered by a current local hazard mitigation plan decreased from 84.3 percent in 2010 to 45.5 percent in 2022. However, in the last year, six additional cities adopted a current plan. The difference in participation in 2010 versus 2021 is in part due to the Missouri plan being recently adopted and a revision to the eligibility requirements. The baseline percentage reflects the Missouri cities and counties that had adopted the St. Louis Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2010-2014. The current data point reflects the number that adhere to the FEMA requirement that a jurisdiction participate in the development of and adopt the 2020-2025 plan.

Jurisdictions must formally pass an adoption resolution for each updated plan and must participate in developing each plan, which is updated every five years. In Illinois and Missouri, it is voluntary for local jurisdictions to adopt their respective current hazard mitigation plans. The current status of the plans are as follows: East-West Gateway produces the plan for the city of St. Louis and Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties, and all of the cities within those counties. The current plan was approved by FEMA October 9, 2020 and has been adopted by 36 local governments. The plan for Monroe County was also approved by FEMA in 2021 and has been adopted by seven local governments. The plan for Madison County was approved in 2020 and has been adopted by 21 local governments. The plan for St. Clair County was approved in 2019 and has been adopted by all 29 local governments.

Geographic Level

St. Louis eight-county bi-state region, including Franklin, Jefferson, St. Charles, and St. Louis counties and the city of St. Louis in Missouri and Madison, Monroe, and St. Clair counties in Illinois. View map.

Notes

Not Applicable 

Data Sources

Missouri State Emergency Management Agency, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and Local Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plans