FEMA Hazard Mitigation Planning Policy Updates (2025)
Mitigation plans are required under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) and Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 201 (Mitigation Planning) as a condition of receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance.
In compliance with the directions provided by the Jan. 20, 2025 Executive Order (EO) 14148 “Initial Rescissions Of Harmful Executive Orders And Actions”, subsequent EOs to date, and the Memorandum for Component and Office Heads from the Department of Homeland Security Secretary titled “Elimination of Climate Change Activities and Terminology” dated Feb. 14, 2025, FEMA reviewed the Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide and determined that certain sub-elements require revision to align with the Administration’s guidance.
FEMA received a Policy Waiver that allows FEMA and states with plan approval authority delegated under Program Administration by States (PAS) to complete the review and approval of local mitigation plans and ensure that local governments are not delayed or denied hazard mitigation assistance grants that build resilience and prevent future disasters nationwide.
The Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide includes Elements A-H and are broken further into sub-elements that FEMA and PAS States review for plan approval. While the sub-elements will continue to be required, the Policy Waiver modifies certain sub-elements as follows:
FEMA Element A: Planning Process
- A2-a. The plan is not required to include organizations that “work directly with and/or provide support to underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations, among others.”
- A3-a. The plan is not required to include “underserved communities.”
Element B: Risk Assessment
- B1-e. The plan is not required to include “climate change (e.g., long-term weather patterns, average temperature and sea levels).”
- B2-a. The plan is not required to include “underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations.”
- B2-b. The plan is not required to describe “the effects of climate change” or “the makeup of socially vulnerable populations.”
Element C: Mitigation Strategy
- C4-a. The plan is not required to include mitigation actions that “benefit underserved communities and socially vulnerable populations.”
Element E: Plan Update
- E1-a. The plan is not required to include “climate change” or “shifts in the needs of underserved communities or gaps in social equity.”
Mitigation plans may include additional content to meet Element H: Additional State Requirements or content the local government included beyond applicable FEMA mitigation planning requirements under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, as amended, the National Dam Safety Program Act, as amended, Title 44 Code of Federal Regulations Part 201, Mitigation Planning, and the Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide. FEMA approval does not include the review or approval of content that exceeds these applicable FEMA mitigation planning requirements. This will be noted in the updated FEMA Local Mitigation Plan Approval Letters and APA Notices as well.
The updated Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide (FP-206-21-0002, April 11, 2025) is now available at Create a Hazard Mitigation Plan | FEMA.gov. The updated Guide is effective immediately for all local mitigation plan approvals.
Additional Resources
Local Mitigation Planning Handbook and Additional Resources
Mitigation planning provides a framework local governments can build on to lessen the impacts of natural disasters. By encouraging whole-community involvement, assessing risk and using a range of resources, local governments can reduce risk to people, economies and natural environments. The Local Mitigation Planning Handbook (June 2025) guides local governments, including special districts, as they develop or update a hazard mitigation plan.
The Handbook is a companion to the Guide. The Guide helps local governments understand the requirements in the CFR. It also assists state and federal officials who provide training and technical assistance to local governments during their review and approval of local plans. The Handbook, on the other hand, gives advice and approaches for developing these plans.
Guide to Virtual Hazard Mitigation Planning Meetings
The Guide to Virtual Hazard Mitigation Planning Meetings document details tips, resources, and potential platforms to facilitate and host effective virtual hazard mitigation planning meetings.
Additional Resources
Local Plans in Massachusetts
Plans are submitted to MEMA and FEMA Region 1 for review and approval. For more information, please contact MEMA's Mitigation Unit, at Mitigation@mass.gov.
How To Submit A Hazard Mitigation Plan To MEMA (Updated February 2023)
To view a copy of your community’s local hazard mitigation plan, check your community’s official website or contact your local Emergency Management Director.
Individuals interested in learning more about the hazard mitigation planning process can take FEMA’s online free training course IS-318.
https://youtu.be/KpB-IglRhg8
Additional Resources
Hazard Mitigation for Natural Disasters: A Starter Guide for Water and Wastewater Utilities
This US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) guide encourages water and wastewater utilities to work with their local mitigation planners to implement priority projects using FEMA or other source funding.
The guide provides an overview of the mitigation process, along with practical examples of mitigation projects to address the impacts of earthquakes, tornados, floods, drought, wildfires and power outages.
Download the US EPA Guide here: https://www.epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/hazard-mitigation-natural-disasters
Green Infrastructure and Hazard Mitigation Guide
EPA has released Storm Smart Cities, Integrating Green Infrastructure into Local Hazard Mitigation Plans, a guide that examines how communities can incorporate green infrastructure into local hazard planning efforts. The guide is a case study of efforts in Huntington, West Virginia, highlighting a local, state, and federal partnership and the collaborative effort to address local flooding and protect water quality.
FEMA HM Planning Resources
Sustainability in Mitigation Planning
- Integrating Hazard Mitigation Into Local Planning and other Planning Activities integration & implementation provides guidance on incorporating risk reduction strategies into plans, policies, codes, and programs for development or redevelopment.
- Planning for Post-disaster Recovery Next Generation PAS 576
- Subdivision Design and Flood Hazard Areas PAS 584
FEMA Region 1 Good Practice Guides
This FEMA Region 1 Demonstrating Good Practices Within Local Hazard Mitigation Plans reference describes ideas which communities and planning staff can use in developing a federally approvable hazard mitigation plan. The twenty-one FEMA requirements are each addressed in separate guides within this one document. One additional guide offers an optional Table of Contents as an aid for communities organizing their plans.
FEMA also offers the following mitigation planning documents/tools:
- G-318 Local Hazard Mitigation Planning Massachusetts Workshop Slides
- Sample Action Worksheets
- FEMA Region 1 Mitigation Ideas by Hazard Type file size 3MB
- Selected Federal Mitigation Resources
- NFIP Checklist for Effective State Floodplain Management
- Hazard Extent Scales
- FEMA Region 1 Mitigation Planning Webliography
Additional Resources
ResilientMass Plan (Massachusetts Integrated State Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan)
The ResilientMass Plan is the innovative 2023 update to the 2018 State Hazard Mitigation & Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP). Approved by FEMA on September 15, 2023, the ResilientMass Plan identifies strategies and specific, measurable actions state agencies can take—individually or through interagency partnerships— to address risks to the human health and safety, communities, critical assets and infrastructure, natural resources, governance, and economy of the Commonwealth. The ResilientMass Plan aims to ensure the Commonwealth is prepared to withstand, rapidly recover from, adapt to, and mitigate natural hazard events.
Read the Executive Summary:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/2023-resilientmass-plan#read-the-executive-summary-
The previous State Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan (SHMCAP) for the Commonwealth was adopted on September 17, 2018, in fulfillment of Governor Baker’s Executive Order 569 on climate change. This plan, the first of its kind to comprehensively integrate climate change impacts and adaptation strategies with hazard mitigation planning, also complied with current federal requirements for state hazard mitigation plans, maintaining the Commonwealth’s eligibility for federal disaster recovery and hazard mitigation funding under the Stafford Act. The plan received FEMA approval and was effective 9/19/2018 through 9/18/2023. The plan can be viewed at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-integrated-state-hazard-mitigation-and-climate-adaptation-plan .
In early 2022, the Commonwealth began an update of the 2018 SHMCAP. The State Hazard Mitigation Team (SHMT) in conjunction with the Resilient Massachusetts Action Team (RMAT) conducted a comprehensive review and update of the 2018 SHMCAP utilizing a contractor to facilitate and administer the planning process, risk and vulnerability assessment, mitigation strategy, and related deliverables. The plan update released in Fall 2023 integrates the 2022 Massachusetts Climate Change Assessment which directly informs the Risk Assessment and Strategy and Action Plan among other sections, serving as a critical guiding resource across the state as the Commonwealth works collectively to reduce risk and build resilience.