Reducing Philadelphia’s Risk
What is the Hazard Mitigation Plan?
Hazard mitigation is the act of reducing or eliminating the risk of natural, human-caused, or technological disasters. The Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) describes which hazards, like flooding and winter storms, affect Philadelphia. The plan also looks at what City projects can help reduce damage from disasters before they happen.
Priorities for the 2022 plan include equity, climate change, and alignment with other City processes and plans. The plan looks at 18 different hazards and lists 163 actions the City can take to reduce our risk.
Overall, more than 190 people from 85 different agencies and organizations engaged in the 2022 update. Public comments from nearly 400 public surveys and numerous community events informed the plan.
View the 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan here.
Why Mitigate?
- Helps prevent loss of life and injury
- Prevents damage to property, businesses, and homes
- Every $1 spent in mitigation = $6 saved in disaster response and recovery
- Protects the City of Brotherly Love’s unique economic, cultural, and environmental features
Plan and Amendment Documents
| Name | Description | Released | Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 All-Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) as approved by City Council, FEMA, and PEMA. This is a large download. | May 19, 2022 | |
| Annex A: Bibliography | A document listing the sources used for the 2022 HMP update. Annexes D, E, and F are For Official Use Only (FOUO). | Jan 31, 2022 | |
| Annex B: Local Mitigation Plan Review Tool | Required FEMA review tool specifying requirements met. | Jan 31, 2022 | |
| Annex C: Meeting and Participation Documentation | Documentation of all meetings and workshops held throughout the 2022 HMP Planning Process. | Jan 31, 2022 | |
| Annex G: Review of 2017 Mitigation Strategy | Documentation of removed, completed, and updated mitigation actions from the 2017 HMP. | Jan 31, 2022 | |
| November 2022 Amendment | Documentation of the two projects added to the 2022 plan in November 2022. | Nov 30, 2022 | |
| 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan | Full 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan. This is a large download. | May 17, 2017 | |
| 2012 Hazard Mitigation Plan | 2012 assessment of methods for addressing natural hazards in Philadelphia. | May 1, 2012 |
How can you be involved?
Provide comments
Review the plan and provide us with your comments by emailing oem@phila.gov.
Attend a workshop
Interested in learning more about emergency preparedness and the Hazard Mitigation Plan? Reach out to us at oem@phila.gov to learn about our workshops.
Follow us
Follow us on social media @PhilaOEM for updates.
Spread the word
Tell everyone who lives, works, or plays in Philadelphia about the plan and how they can get involved!
Reach out
Questions about the plan or curious about how you can schedule a workshop for your community? Reach out to us at oem@phila.gov.
Implementing Mitigation Projects
Does your City agency, organization, or non-profit have a risk reduction project that you think should be in the plan? Are you looking for opportunities to fund a risk reduction project? Check out the opportunities below!
Each fall, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) opens up two Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs: Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) and the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC). FEMA’s FMA and BRIC programs supply funds for hazard mitigation planning activities and implementation of mitigation projects in the City’s Hazard Mitigation Plan. See the resources below to learn more about the City’s application process for these grants. To express interest in these grant opportunities, please reach out to oem@phila.gov.
| Name | Description | Released | Format |
| Identifying Mitigation Actions | Fact sheet to help you learn more about what makes a good mitigation project.
|
December 2023 | |
| Preparing for FEMA’s Annual Hazard Mitigation Grants | Fact sheet outlining recommended next steps to help potential City applicants start planning for FEMA’s annual grant opportunities. | December 2023 |
You can also sign up to receive OEM’s quarterly hazard mitigation newsletter to learn more about:
- Updates on new and ongoing hazard mitigation projects in the City;
- Updates on plan updates and annual plan reviews;
- State and Federal hazard mitigation updates that impact the City;
- Major grant opportunities, grant timelines, funding workshops, and opportunities for potential partnerships;
- Current training opportunities available; and
- Additional hazard mitigation resources.
Please fill out this form or reach out to oem@phila.gov to express interest in receiving the hazard mitigation newsletter.