Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update

Learn more about what Anne Arundel County is doing to update the Hazard Mitigation plan and how you can get involved!

Hazard Mitigation

Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce the loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. It aims to minimize or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from natural hazards such as floods, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes, and tornadoes, as well as human-caused hazards like industrial accidents and terrorist attacks. For more information on how you can mitigate the potential effects of disasters check out our Disaster Mitigation webpage. 

Community resilience is the ability of a community to prepare for anticipated natural hazards, adapt to changing conditions, and withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions. 

Risk is the likelihood that a threat will harm an asset with some severity of consequences and deciding on which actions can reduce that risk.

Hazard mitigation risk assessment is a process used to identify potential hazards and analyze what could happen if a disaster or hazard occurs. There are numerous hazards to consider, and each hazard could have many possible scenarios happening within or because of it.

Hazard Mitigation Plan

Hazard mitigation planning is a crucial process that helps communities prepare for and reduce the risks associated with natural and man-made disasters. These plans outline strategies to lessen the impact of disasters on people, property, and the environment. Understanding the importance of these plans, how often they should be updated, and how the public can get involved is essential for building safer, more resilient communities.

The County’s Hazard Mitigation Plan is currently being updated for approval in 2025. The County will conduct a Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) to identify natural hazards and associated risks and vulnerabilities. A set of mitigation actions will be developed into a comprehensive strategy to develop long-term solutions to increase community resilience. The Hazard Mitigation Plan serves as a local guide for committing resources to reduce the effects of natural hazards. Anne Arundel County will use the 2018 plan as a baseline for updating hazards, risks, community profiles, and in identifying areas for improvement. The Hazard Mitigation Plan must be updated every five (5) years. Anne Arundel County will utilize FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide, effective April 19, 2023, for the 2025 update.

Importance of Hazard Mitigation Plans:

  1. Hazard mitigation plans identify and prioritize risks, allowing communities to take proactive measures to reduce vulnerabilities.
  2. Investing in mitigation measures before a disaster can save lives and reduce recovery costs.
  3. By implementing mitigation strategies, communities become more resilient to disasters, ensuring quicker recovery and less disruption to daily life.

How Often Plans Should be Updated:

  1. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) requires hazard mitigation plans to be updated every five years to remain eligible for certain mitigation funding.
  2. As communities grow and environmental factors change, mitigation plans need to be updated to reflect current risks and vulnerabilities.
  3. Regular updates allow communities to assess the effectiveness of existing mitigation measures and make improvements as needed.

How the Public Can Get Involved:

  1. Attend virtual public meetings and in-person outreach events to learn about the mitigation planning process and provide input.
  2. Participate in our survey and provide feedback to help identify hazards and prioritize mitigation strategies.
  3. Sign up for email updates about upcoming events and 
  4. Join or volunteer with local organizations involved in disaster preparedness and mitigation efforts.
  5. Stay informed about hazards in your area and educate others about the importance of mitigation planning by following us on social media.
  6. For any other questions or concerns email hazardmitigationupdate2025@aacounty.org.

Progress Tracker

Check back in to see what phase we are in for the Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025 Update:

  1. Phase One Establish a Planning Team and Organize Resources (March 2024 - July 2024)

    Phase one of conducting a Hazard Mitigation update is to create a planning team that includes representatives from each jurisdiction, departments in the county who have equity in the plan, and those who have authority to implement the plan. 

    This phase includes identifying threats and hazards that could impact the county.  

  2. Phase Two Risk / Capability Assessment (July 2024 - November 2024)

    Phase two includes the risk and capability assessments. The risk assessment will identify the potential impacts of hazards on the community including residents, the economy, and the built and natural environments. The risk assessment identifies and prioritizes actions to reduce risk while the capability assessment evaluates the existing authorities, policies, programs, and resources to accomplish the hazard mitigation update.

  3. Phase Three Develop Mitigation Strategies (November 2024 - January 2025)

    Phase three evaluates the updated data and information to create actionable mitigation strategies for the county. The mitigation strategies include specific projects and actions that are identified by each Department to achieve local goals and are based on the results of the risk and capability assessments and available resources.

  4. Phase Four Plan Review and Adoption (January 2025 - June 2025)

    Phase four of the plan will provide the opportunity for public comment. The draft plan with the updated data, tables, maps, and mitigation strategies will be shared with the public at local libraries and on the County’s website. Following the public comment period, the draft plan will undergo state and federal plan review. Once an Approval Pending Adoption (APA) letter is received, the plan will go before the local legislative body for final approval and adoption. The public will have the opportunity to provide comments on the 2025 update during the legislative hearing.

  5. Phase Five Plan Maintenance (July 2025 - July 2026)

    Plan Maintenance is the process to track the plan’s implementation progress and to inform the plan update. The plan will include a description of the method and schedule for monitoring, evaluating, and updating it within the five-year cycle to prepare for the next update.