Building a Safer Future: Key Takeaways from the Larimer County Hazard Mitigation Webinar

Larimer County recently hosted a public engagement workshop via webinar on October 9th, providing insight into the ongoing update of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. If you missed the virtual meeting, here are the key takeaways on why this structured planning process is vital for building a more prepared and resilient community.

What is Hazard Mitigation and Why Costs Are Rising

At its core, Hazard Mitigation is defined as sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards. The Larimer County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan is a proactive strategy designed to analyze the County's vulnerabilities to all types of hazards—both natural and human-caused.

A core message from the presentation, featuring experts like Josh Roberts and Scott Field, highlighted the financial wisdom of preparing for disaster. The statistic is clear and compelling: Every $1 spent on mitigation saves $6 in the event of a disaster.

This return on investment is more critical than ever, as disaster costs are rising nationally due to several key trends:

• Climate Change: Increased frequency and intensity of severe weather events, such as historic floods and large-scale wildfires.

• Population Growth: More people and development moving into high-risk areas (the Wildland-Urban Interface or floodplains), putting more assets in harm's way.

The plan specifically addresses this rising risk by reviewing a comprehensive list of hazards, including:

• Wildfire

• Flood (including analysis of events with a 1% or .2% chance of occurring in any given year)

• Drought

• Severe Weather (e.g., hail, blizzards, high winds)

• Landslides and Rockfall

• Earthquakes

By reducing the impact of disasters, mitigation efforts support protection and prevention activities, ease response efforts, and speed up community recovery.

The Plan: A Guide for Mitigation Funding

The significance of the Hazard Mitigation Plan goes beyond simply listing risks; it is the fundamental requirement for receiving federal pre- and post-disaster mitigation funding.

The planning process involves a thorough Risk Assessment that identifies specific vulnerabilities (e.g., structures in a flood zone, roads susceptible to rockfall). This assessment forms the basis for the Mitigation Strategy, which outlines concrete projects and actions. FEMA requires this adopted plan to validate that any proposed project is a priority based on the community's identified risks.

In simple terms, no plan, no funds. The plan is the roadmap that determines where millions of dollars in grant money (like FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Grant Program or Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities - BRIC) may be spent to protect the County. This ensures that federal money is spent efficiently on projects that have the highest potential for long-term risk reduction.

The Process, The Schedule, and Your Voice

The County is currently in the process of updating the 2021 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is a required five-year update mandated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). This is not a static document; it's a comprehensive, multi-phase effort that adheres to a specific schedule to ensure a thorough and compliant final product.

The planning process involves several key phases, with the recent October 9th webinar marking a significant milestone in the Public Engagement and Data Collection Phase.

Community Feedback is Crucial

The planning team heavily emphasized that the plan is only successful if it reflects the real-world experiences and priorities of the people it serves. Community feedback is the cornerstone of the entire process. It ensures that the identified risks are accurate, and that the proposed mitigation actions are practical, equitable, and locally supported. Take the five-minute survey.

The public engagement workshops, like the one on Oct. 9th, are essential to ensure the new plan is a true multi-jurisdictional effort, including participation from key partners such as:

• Cities/Towns: Fort Collins, Loveland, Estes Park, and others.

• Fire Authorities: Poudre Fire Authority, Loveland Fire Rescue Authority, and various local districts.

• Other Partners: Big Thompson Watershed Coalition, Colorado State University, and Poudre School District.

Get Involved

The work is ongoing, and the planning team needs continued input as they move forward in the process. To ensure your neighborhood's needs are addressed and to review the comprehensive plan drafts and progress, visit the official Larimer County Hazard Mitigation Plan website for future meeting dates and ways to submit feedback.