In partnership with all the counties in the East Michigan region, EMCOG has prepared hazard mitigation plans for many counties in its region (Arenac, Clare, Gladwin, Iosco, Ogemaw, Roscommon and Sanilac). The Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 included new requirements for hazard mitigation planning. In order to become eligible for hazard mitigation grant program funds in the future, counties prepared and adopted hazard mitigation plans. The DMA required that local hazard mitigation plans that meet the requirements of the act must be in place by November 2004 and be current thereafter.

The intent of a hazard mitigation plan was to inventory possible hazards, assess what hazards the community is vulnerable to, and to provide possible mitigation activities for those hazards. Every county in the region currently has an emergency management plan that addresses emergency action guidelines. These plans address response, but do not address prevention. The focus of the hazard mitigation plan is the development of projects and policies that can be implemented to reduce or prevent losses from future disasters.

Mitigation Plans form 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 is as important as the plan itself. It creates a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damages to lives, property, and the economy from future disasters. Hazard mitigation is sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and their property from hazards.

State, Indian Tribal, and local governments are required to develop a hazard mitigation plan as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance. Please visit the Mitigation Grant Programs page for more information on the specific plan requirements for the various mitigation grant programs, as well as FEMA funds available for mitigation plan development and mitigation projects.

EMCOG worked closely with the Local Emergency Planning Committees (LEPC) of each county in the East Michigan Region to develop the plan and received input from community leaders, stakeholders and concerned citizens throughout the planning process.

For a PDF copy of the Michigan Emergency Management Act please contact our office.

Useful Links:

FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

FEMA Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning

Why does my community need a mitigation plan?

How do I develop a mitigation plan?

Does my community have a mitigation plan?

Emergency Survival Guide

Incident Management

Is Your Business Read for an Emergency?

Is your Community Ready for an Emergency?

Family Preparedness Guide

Map- Emergency Management 2011

Incident Management Websites for Public Officials

A Governor’s Guide to Homeland Security