2024 Tri-City Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

Press release from the City of Union City:

In 2023, the Cities of Fremont, Newark, and Union City and the Alameda County Water and Union Sanitary Districts partnered to develop a new Tri-City Multi-jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) as an update to previous plans. The purpose of the new Tri-City LHMP is to assess community risk and vulnerability to natural hazards, and to identify actions to reduce future losses from natural disasters. Subject to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) review and approval, the new plan will allow each of the partnering agencies above to receive Federal Emergency Management Agency hazard mitigation grant funding in accordance with the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000.

What is Hazard Mitigation?

Hazard mitigation means any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards.

What are Natural Hazards?

Natural hazards are events that occur in nature that threaten the safety of human lives and property. Some examples include earthquakes, severe storms, floods, wildfires, and tsunami.

Why is Natural Hazard Mitigation Important?

Rising costs associated with disaster response and recovery have focused the attention of local, state, and federal government officials on addressing natural hazards before they occur. Hazard events – such as torrential rains and flooding, wildfires, and earthquakes – cannot be prevented. However, their impacts can be reduced through hazard mitigation. Planning for natural hazards and the implementation of mitigation measures can substantially reduce impacts to the community. According to FEMA, each dollar invested in mitigation saves an average of six dollars in losses. Natural hazard mitigation can reduce loss of life, injuries, property damage, emergency response and recovery costs, and the economic and social impacts that natural disasters pose to our communities.

Hazard Mitigation Plan and Plan Update Process

Following an award of a $187,500 grant to the City of Fremont by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and FEMA of a $250,000 grant to the City of Fremont in September 2022, professional services were enlisted to develop the plan. In May 2023, planning began with the convening of a Planning Committee consisting of City and District personnel, as well as other key public agency and community stakeholders. The LHMP is scheduled to be finalized and submitted to Cal OES and FEMA for approval in Spring 2024.

The plan assesses natural hazards and analyzes the likely impacts each hazard poses to people and property in each city, and in the Tri-City area. The plan establishes goals and prioritizes potential projects to reduce natural hazard risk. These projects may be considered for future hazard mitigation grant funding, which is administered by Cal OES and FEMA, and awarded on a competitive basis. Additionally, the LHMP enhances each cities’ floodplain management planning under FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program, Community Rating System.

Public Review and Comment

Public Review Draft A Public Review Draft of the Tri-City LHMP will be available online (in pdf format) beginning January 19 through February 16, 2024 at: my.fremont.gov/tri-city-hazard-plan. The LHMP will also be available in print beginning January 25 through February 16, 2024 at the following locations, during business hours:

• Fremont Main Library – 2400 Stevenson Blvd., Fremont, CA 94538
• Newark Library – 37055 Newark Blvd., Newark, CA 94560
• Union City City Hall – 34009 Alvarado-Niles Road, Union City, CA 94587

Comments on the Public Review Draft There are several options for providing comments on the Tri-City LHMP Public Review Draft:

1. Email comments to jeanine.foster@fostermorrison.com.
2. Drop off written comments or send by mail to: Fremont Fire DepartmentOffice of Emergency Services3300 Capitol Avenue, Building “A”Fremont, CA 94538Attn: Hazard Mitigation Plan
3. Bring comments to the public meeting

All comments are due by February 16, 2024.

For more information, visit www.unioncity.org/LHMP.

CONTACT: City Manager’s Office(510) 471-3232 (Press 8) citymanageroffice@unioncity.org

This press release was produced by the City of Union City. The views expressed here are the author’s own.