GOHSEP Elected_Officials_Manual_2015

Plan Updates
A local jurisdiction must evaluate and
monitor its plan to reflect changes in
development, progress in local mitigation
efforts and changes in priorities. Local
governing authorities must update the plan
every five (5) years to continue eligibility
for mitigation project funding. Plan
updates must demonstrate that progress
has been made in fulfilling commitments
outlined in the previously approved plan.
64 Parish Plans
To date, each of the 64 Parishes within the State
of Louisiana has a FEMA-approved Local Hazard
Mitigation Plan (HMP).
Local hazard mitigation planning is typically developed
at the Parish level in Louisiana. However, plans can
reflect multi-jurisdictional planning or be the result
of planning efforts of municipalities, schools or others
at the local level. FEMA, in its State and Local Mitigation
Planning How-To Series, provides suggestions to local
governments for preparing multi-jurisdictional hazard
mitigation plans. A multi-jurisdictional hazard mitigation
plan is a plan prepared by more than one jurisdiction.
It may include any Parish, municipality, City, town,
township, school district or other special district,
council of governments, special entities, Native
American Tribal authority or unincorporated areas.
Multi-jurisdictional plans pose special considerations that
single-jurisdiction plans may not need to address. There
are benefits as well, such as cost savings to prepare
plans, shared staff and resources and comprehensive
approaches to mitigation that cross jurisdictional
boundaries.
State Hazard Mitigation
Plan (SHMP)
The Louisiana SHMP is Federally mandated by the DMA
2000. It is required to be approved by FEMA and is
updated on a five (5) year cycle. The SHMP is intended
to identify and support implementation actions that
reduce the risk of loss of life and property damage and
preserve eligibility for existing levels of Federal and preand
post-disaster funding.
The SHMP is the State’s commitment and longterm
strategy to reduce disaster losses and break
the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction
and repeated damage. The planning process is as
important as the plan itself. It creates a framework for
risk-based decision making to reduce damages to
lives, property and the economy from future disasters.
SHMP KEY CONCEPTS
The SHMP defines comprehensive risk and capability
assessments that form a solid foundation for decision
making. It recognizes the benefits of participation
by a wide range of stakeholders who play a role in
identifying and implementing mitigation actions.
6.1 Local HMP Page 2 of 3
Revised: December 21, 2014