Placer Supervisors approve hazard mitigation grant

The Placer County Supervisors voted to accept grant funding for hazard mitigation planning from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) during its consent agenda Tuesday. FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program provides funding to assist with eligible mitigation measures that reduce disaster losses, the program website states. According to the staff report, Placer recently secured $300,000 in funding from the grant program as part of its Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update initiative. A mitigation plan aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of hazards affecting the county to develop strategies to manage those risks. The planning process for the update initiative will utilize a combination of staff and consulting resources, including representatives from the county, the cities of Auburn, Colfax, Lincoln, Rocklin and the town of Loomis. The staff report confirms the goal of the grant is to improve the community's ability to withstand potential hazards. The staff report notes the county would be required to provide $100,000 in matching funds. Local governments are required by the Disaster Mitigation Act to update hazard mitigation plans every five years. Placer's mitigation plan was last updated in 2021, which included 209 mitigation actions to address hazards and updated risk assessment for 18 hazards, including wildfire, drought, dam failures and storms.