TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Keith Stahley, City Manager
FROM: Mike Niblock, Fire Chief
SUBJECT:
title
Update to the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Safe and Healthy Community
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SUMMARY:
summary
The City of Salem has a Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP) that describes its risk to natural disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, as well as mitigation strategies and tasks to reduce risk. It is designed to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure it remains an active and relevant document. City Council will adopt the updated NHMP through adoption of Resolution No. 2023-36.
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ISSUE:
Shall the City Council adopt Resolution No. 2023-36, updating the City of Salem Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-36, updating the City of Salem Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The NHMP is designed to be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that it remains an active and relevant document. Hazard mitigation planning and actions provide for a more resilient city. Staff planners from across the city departments meet on a regular basis to review action items and determine any interim plan changes needed.
With the assistance of the of the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), the Salem Natural Hazards Mitigation Committee has convened throughout 2023 to develop the five-year update of the NHMP for 2023. The following organizations were represented during the 2023 update of the Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan:
• City of Salem City Manager’s Office
• City of Salem Emergency Management
• City of Salem Building and Safety
• City of Salem Fire Department
• City of Salem Police Department
• City of Salem Public Works
• City of Salem Community Development
• City of Salem Public Information
• City of Turner
• Chemeketa Community College
• Cherriots Transportation
• Mano A Mano Family Center
• Marion County Emergency Management
• Mid-Willamette Valley Communication Action
• Mid-Willamette Valley Council of Governments
• North Santiam Watershed Council
• Oregon Climate Change Research Institute
• Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Studies
• Oregon Joint Operations Center
• Portland General Electric
• Red Cross
• SAIF Insurance
• Salem Hospital
• Salem Keizer Schools
• Salem Leadership Foundation
• Willamette University
FEMA has reviewed Salem’s NHMP and has indicated that it complies with federal regulations and that it will approve the Plan upon Council adoption (Attachment 1).
Final City Council adoption of Resolution No. 2023-36 (Attachment 2), adopting the Plan (Exhibit A to the resolution) will provide several benefits:
1. The City of Salem remains eligible for federal pre- and post-disaster mitigation grants.
2. The City has a clear understanding of its risks from natural hazards.
3. The City has a comprehensive plan for the reduction of natural hazards within the community.
BACKGROUND:
In 2002, Salem became one of the first cities in the nation to obtain approval of its NHMP by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The NHMP was reviewed and updated in 2003, 2008, 2012, and 2017. The most recent NHMP was adopted by City Council on December 11, 2017, by Resolution No. 2017-575.
A hard copy of the updated NHMP is available at Fire Station No. 1, 370 Trade Street SE, Salem.
MIKE NIBLOCK
FIRE CHIEF
Attachments:
1. FEMA Letter.
2. Resolution 2023-36
3. Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (Exhibit A to the Resolution)