A Disaster-Resistant Brisbane

The Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) is the regional planning and services agency for the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area.  While earthquake related or induced hazards (faulting, shaking, landsides, liquefaction and tsunamis) are the first to come to mind for people living in this geologically active part of the world, there are also weather hazards (flooding, landslides, wildfires, and drought) whose effects can be mitigating by advance efforts.

Reducing, or mitigating, a hazard is most effective when a long-term plan is developed before the hazard occurs.  Brisbane’s first Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) was approved by the City Council and then ABAG in 2005, and was the joint effort of the Community Development Department, Office of Emergency Services, Police Department, Public Works Department, and North County Fire Authority working together to ascertain Brisbane’s greatest natural disaster threats and what resources are available to respond in the wake of one becoming a reality here in Brisbane. 

With the ABAG Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan, “Taming Natural Disasters” approved by FEMA in November of 2010, ABAG is currently assisting local governments in updating their LHMP’s to meet the November 2011 deadline.  In doing so, special districts, counties, and cities are then eligible to receive hazard mitigation grants and have the 6.25% local match waived for Public Assistance money after a disaster.

Brisbane’s updated Local Hazard Mitigation Plan as accepted by City Council at the November 9, 2010 Council meeting will be available for public review and comment through the month of March.  You can find it at City Hall (on the lobby counter) or on the City’s website by clicking here (14.8MB).  If you have any comments, please do not hesitate to send them to the City Clerk at cityhall@ci.brisbane.ca.us.  Your feedback will help ensure a more complete plan, and a disaster-resistant Brisbane!