Tribal Hazard Mitigation Planning is the Focus of National Community Planning Month
Every October, FEMA celebrates National Community Planning Month. This year, the agency is highlighting tribal hazard mitigation planning. Tribal governments create hazard mitigation plans to reduce risks and protect against losses from natural hazards. Tribes with FEMA-approved plans are also eligible for some types of non-emergency FEMA funding.
FEMA is currently updating its Tribal Mitigation Planning Policy with the rollout expected in 2024. The last version of the Tribal Mitigation Planning Policy came out in 2017. The updates will aim to reflect more current needs. They will also aim to include new opportunities for tribes to build resilience.
Tribal Consultations and Feedback
FEMA is eager to hear from and work with tribal governments on the policy updates. As a first step, FEMA is holding consultations with tribal leaders and their designees.
To see more information and find out about other sessions, visit FEMA’s Tribal Consultations web page.
Tribal nations can also send in comments and questions to fema-tribal@fema.dhs.gov. Please include the subject line “Tribal Mitigation Planning Guidance – Written Comments.” Comments are due by Nov. 30, 2023.
Tribal Mitigation Planning Successes
Over 240 tribal governments have approved hazard mitigation plans. Many of these include creative strategies to meet the tribe’s unique needs. For example, the Lummi Nation first developed their plan to address ongoing flooding. This plan was used to turn a large part of the Reservation, the Lummi Peninsula, into an island.
Since then, the Lummi Nation formed a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Team that meets several times a year. They review all hazard risks. They also coordinate with FEMA and other partners in emergency management. They check on the status of mitigation activities and update the plan. These efforts make the plan a living document that is used on a regular basis.
Tribal Mitigation Planning Resources
FEMA offers resources and information for tribal mitigation planning. These include:
- Introduction to Tribal Mitigation Planning Webinar. View the recording here.
- Tribal Mitigation Planning Handbook
- Tribal Mitigation Planning Fact Sheet
- Tribal Mitigation Planning and Grant Application Development
- IS-350: Tribal Hazard Mitigation Planning (2021)
- Tribal Mitigation Planning Workshop
Visit FEMA’s Tribal Policy Updates webpage to learn more.
