CBJ advances multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation plan to full Assembly; seeks FEMA approval to qualify for grants

The Committee of the Whole on July 14 voted to forward a draft multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan to the Assembly for adoption and onward submission to the State and FEMA. Emergency Programs Manager Ryan O'Shaughnessy and consultant Laurie Young of Fairweather Science presented the plan, which the staff and consultant described as a non-regulatory guiding document required for a range of hazard mitigation grant programs.

Why it matters: A FEMA- and state-approved hazard mitigation plan is a prerequisite for many federal and state mitigation grants. CBJ staff said the plan is needed now to be eligible for upcoming hazard mitigation funding cycles.

Plan components and findings: O'Shaughnessy described the plan as composed of two main parts: (1) a comprehensive risk assessment (more than 300 pages) covering hazards from earthquakes and severe weather to cybersecurity and high-hazard dam failure; and (2) a mitigation action plan listing projects that could reduce identified risks. The mitigation list was culled from public input, previous plans and agency suggestions. The planning team reviewed roughly 187 project ideas and selected 104 for the draft mitigation-action list.

Special topics and data use: The plan uses the best available science and existing studies; no new standalone field studies were initiated for the plan. The draft includes mapped landslide-risk areas based on prior contractor (Tetra Tech) mapping, overlaid with older 1992 maps to avoid implying parcel-level regulatory status. Staff reported they coordinated with the state hazard-mitigation office and FEMA throughout the drafting process and said FEMA and the state had been engaged and were supportive of the approach for inclusion without making those maps regulatory.

Schedule and public comment: The plan was kicked off in January 2025 with public meetings (Jan. 29 and June 17). The mitigation-action list was released for public comment in early July; staff said the public comment period runs through July 25. CBJ will submit the plan to the state Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, which will forward it to FEMA for review; staff acknowledged that FEMA review times vary and can be slow.

Assembly direction and adoption: Mayor Weldon moved the resolution forwarding the draft plan to the full Assembly and asked for unanimous consent; the motion was adopted without objection. Staff said that if FEMA or the state requests changes during review, staff will make those revisions and report back to the Assembly and that the plan will be formally updated on a five-year cycle with annual reviews proposed to avoid a future lapse.

Next steps and follow-up: After Assembly adoption and state/FEMA review, the plan would be final and allow CBJ to apply for hazard mitigation grant programs and other funding. Staff emphasized the plan is non-regulatory and is intended to inform mitigation priorities and funding requests, not to serve as a land-use code or development regulation.

Speakers included Ryan O'Shaughnessy (CBJ Emergency Programs Manager), Manager Kester (introduction), and Laurie Young (Fairweather Science, on the phone).