Planning Tools
The linked resources can be used to assist with local HMP Updates and other hazard mitigation planning initiatives. The 2013 Standard Operating Guide (SOG) documents standard operating procedures for hazard mitigation planning in Pennsylvania by capturing FEMA requirements, clarifying and combining existing guidance, and allowing communities a greater opportunity to excel in the preparation of hazard mitigation plans. The step-by-step "how-to" guidance provided in the SOG makes the hazard mitigation development process more manageable while creating consistency among local hazard mitigation plans. Key standards developed for and included in the SOG are: Model Plan Outline (MPO), Risk Factor Methodology, Standard List of Hazards, and Mitigation Action Evaluation Methodology. The guidance provided in the SOG allows PEMA to conduct a more thorough and detailed plan review in less time.
As a component of the 2018 State HMP Update process, the SOG will also be updated. More information will be available soon.
The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (Handbook) is the official guide for local governments to develop, update and implement local mitigation plans. The Handbook provides guidance to local governments on developing or updating hazard mitigation plans to meet the requirements under the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 44 – Emergency Management and Assistance §201.6, Local Mitigation Plans for FEMA approval and eligibility to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs.
Integrating Hazard Mitigation Into Local Planning: Case Studies and Tools for Community Officials provides practical guidance on how to incorporate risk reduction strategies into existing local plans, policies, codes, and programs that guide community development or redevelopment patterns. It includes recommended steps and tools to assist with local integration efforts, along with ideas for overcoming possible impediments, and presents a series of case studies to demonstrate successful integration in practice. The document also includes several pull-out fact sheets to provide succinct guidance on specific integration topics. This resource is intended for those who are engaged in any type of local planning, but primarily community planners and emergency managers who are involved with hazard mitigation planning and implementation.