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1-1 1. INTRODUCTION TO HAZARD MITIGATION PLANNING 1.1 WHY PREPARE THIS PLAN? 1.1.1 Federal Guidance Hazard mitigation is defined as any action taken to reduce or alleviate the loss of life, personal injury, and property damage that can result from a disaster. It involves long- and short-term actions implemented before, during and after disasters. Hazard mitigation activities include planning efforts, policy changes, programs, studies, improvement projects, and other steps to reduce the impacts of hazards. The federal Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) emphasizes planning for disasters before they occur. The DMA requires state and local governments to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for federal disaster grant assistance. Regulations developed to fulfill the DMA’s requirements are included in Title 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR). The long-term benefits of hazard mitigation planning include the following: • An increased understanding of hazards in the local community • A more sustainable and disaster-resistant community • Financial savings through partnerships that support planning and mitigation efforts • Focused use of limited resources on hazards that have the biggest impact on the communities • Reduced long-term impacts and damage to human health and structures, and reduced repair costs. The responsibility for hazard mitigation lies with not only with local, state, and federal governments, but also with private property owners and commercial and institutional interests. The DMA encourages cooperation among state and local authorities in pre-disaster planning. The enhanced planning network called for by the DMA helps local governments to articulate accurate needs for mitigation, resulting in faster allocation of funding and more cost-effective risk-reduction projects. The DMA also promotes sustainability in hazard mitigation. To be sustainable, hazard mitigation needs to incorporate sound management of natural resources and address hazards and mitigation in the largest possible social and economic context. 1.1.2 Local Concerns In response to the requirements of the DMA, the cities of Dublin, Livermore and Pleasanton, California and the Dublin San Ramon Services District (DSRSD) have developed this multi-jurisdiction hazard mitigation plan. The three cities make up the incorporated area of the Alameda County portion of the Tri-Valley region, on the east side of the San Francisco Bay area. This multi-jurisdiction plan represents an update to each city’s component of Page 92 of 228