Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
The City and County of Honolulu’s (City) Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) is undergoing a required 5-year update, led by the Department of Emergency Management and the Resilience Office.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of natural disasters like floods, wildfires, and hurricanes. Damages from disasters can cause devastating effects on our community’s economic, social and environmental well-being. Fortunately, having a strong LHMP in place can reduce our risks from natural hazards and improve community resilience.
Why does O‘ahu need a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan?
A core responsibility of local government is to protect public health, safety and welfare. A LHMP:
Identifies risks our community faces from natural hazards (based on past events and projections of future risk),
Develops strategies for reducing hazard-related losses, and
Identifies cost-effective mitigation actions to address the greatest risks.
Examples of past LHMP mitigation actions the City has implemented include updating the Shoreline Setback and Special Management Area, and joining the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Community Rating System. These efforts respectively reduce resident’s risk from sea level rise and provide flood insurance policy holders with a 10% premium discount.
How is the Plan changing?
As part of the 5-year update, the City will align the LHMP with the Hawaiʻi Emergency Management Agency’s State Hazard Mitigation Plan.
The LHMP will be expanded to include:
Human and technological hazards,
Hazard impacts on vulnerable populations, and cultural and natural resources, and
Incorporate climate change impacts across all hazard types.