What is a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP)?

An LHMP is a plan that seeks to enhance the resilience of communities, reducing their vulnerability to damage, loss, or disruption from natural or human-caused hazards. The planning process includes assessing the risk of hazards that pose a risk to the community, identifying vulnerabilities within the community, documenting the resources for risk reduction, and identifying and developing mitigation strategies that will improve the City’s resiliency.  The resulting document, the LHMP, serves as a municipality’s guide for enhancing community resilience. Municipalities are required to create, adopt, maintain, and periodically update LHMPs, subject to review by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) and approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA mandates LHMP updates every five years to ensure continued effectiveness.

Why is the City of Lomita Updating the LHMP?

The update of the City’s LHMP will not only ensure that the City is eligible to receive FEMA hazard mitigation funds but will also lead the City in developing a safer, more sustainable community. While the City cannot entirely eliminate natural and human-caused risks to the community, the LHMP aims to enhance community safety. By conducting a thorough evaluation of potential threats and crafting a unified approach to address them, the LHMP fosters better coordination and collaboration among the City, public agencies, businesses, service providers, and residents. Together, these efforts strive to minimize the impacts of both natural and human-induced hazards on the community.

How is the City’s LHMP Being Prepared?

The City has established a Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee (HMPC), featuring representatives from numerous City departments, and is aided by essential stakeholders and technical advisors. Together, these contributors constitute the Project Team responsible for steering the overall development of the City’s LHMP.

What are the Benefits of Updating the LHMP?

Hazard mitigation planning offers numerous benefits to the City of Lomita. By identifying risks and implementing proactive measures, such as infrastructure improvements and emergency preparedness initiatives, hazard mitigation planning helps protect lives and property during disasters. Moreover, investing in mitigation efforts can lead to significant cost savings by reducing damage and recovery expenses.

What Hazards Will the LHMP Help Protect Against?

  • Earthquake
  • Flood
  • Windstorm
  • Water Shortage
  • Urban Fire
  • Hazardous Materials Release
  • Extreme Heat
  • Aircraft Incident

Why Get Involved?

Your engagement in the planning process is vital as it brings diverse perspectives and experiences to the table. As community members, you have unique insights into local hazards and vulnerabilities based on your lived experiences and observations. Your input helps us identify risks more comprehensively and develop targeted strategies that address the specific needs of our community. Together, we can develop a hazard mitigation plan that reflects the collective wisdom and resilience of our community, better preparing us to address future challenges and protect the well-being of all our residents.

How You Can Get Involved:

  • Share your experiences and insights with us on this Online Survey. Your input is crucial for us to grasp the vulnerabilities of our community better.
  • Join us during public meetings and workshops to learn about the hazards in our area and the strategies we’re developing to address them. The City will release a draft of the completed LHMP for public review in the coming months. Please review and provide comments on this document, either at in-person meetings or in writing.
  • Help us reach more people! Encourage your friends, family, and neighbors to get involved in the planning process.

To learn more about upcoming events, access resources, or get involved, refer to this website for the latest information and updates or contact the Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee at Client.Services@RMCPCorp.com.

Meeting Dates

HMPC Meeting #1: March 4, 2024- 4 p.m. at Lomita City Hall
HMPC Meeting #2: April 15, 2024- 4 p.m. at Lomita City Hall
HMPC Meeting #3: June 3, 2024- 4 p.m. at Lomita City Hall
HMPC Meeting #4: TBD
HMPC Meeting #5: TBD