Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

In 2004, the Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LA Unified) developed a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) which received Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval. Subsequent LHMPs were prepared and received FEMA approval. The LHMP is typically valid for a period of five years. In order to keep the LHMP current an update is required to reflect the current responsibilities of LA Unified’s divisions, departments and offices and addresses major natural and human-caused disasters that have the potential to impact LA Unified facilities and operations. 

The LHMP provides a framework to lessen the impact 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 updated plan was prepared to ensure LA Unified would be eligible for FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Hazard Mitigation Grant programs, explicitly, FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP), Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program. Without an approved LHMP, LA Unified would not be eligible for reimbursement from FEMA following a natural disaster. 

2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan  

On August 31, 2018, LA Unified submitted the updated LHMP to the California Office of Emergency Services and FEMA for their review and approval. The LHMP was prepared pursuant to the requirements of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-390) and the implementing regulations set forth by the Interim Final Rule published in the Federal Register on February 26, 2002, (44 CFR §201.6) and finalized on October 31, 2007. On October 17, 2018, the LHMP received conditional approval subject to Board of Education adoption. 

On November 13, 2018, the Board of Education adopted the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) and received FEMA approval on November 19, 2018. 

• Board of Education Documentation
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Approval Letter

2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (Final Version)

• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Final Complete
• Local Hazard Mitigation Plan Final w/out Appendices

2025 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan

To address Hazard Mitigation, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LA Unified) is developing an update to their 2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The purpose of the LHMP development process is to help reduce the impacts of natural hazards to LA Unified and the communities it serves. 

Flood, drought, wildfire, and severe weather are just a few of the natural hazards of concern to the District. While natural hazards such as these cannot be prevented, an LHMP forms the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses by breaking the repeated cycle of disaster damage and reconstruction. Jurisdictions with a FEMA- approved LHMP are eligible for FEMA pre- and post-disaster grant funding and are better positioned to respond and recover when disasters occur. 

The LHMP development process is as important as the plan itself. It creates a framework for risk-based decision making to reduce damages to lives, property, the environment, and the economy from future disasters.

LA Unified kicked off the LHMP Update with meetings in June 2024. The LHMP Update includes an updated list of hazards, assesses the likely impacts of hazards to the people and assets of the LA Unified planning area, and establishes updated goals and prioritizes mitigation projects to reduce the impacts of future disasters on LA Unified students, staff, and District facilities.

Opportunities for Input

Members of the community have a very important role in this process.  A draft of the 2025 LA Unified LHMP Update is available for review and comment by the public and all interested stakeholders below:

PRESS RELEASE: PUBLIC REVIEW DRAFT AND FINAL MEETINGS

For more information on this project and how to be involved, contact Christy Wong at (213) 241-3394 or email at cp-christy.wong@lausd.net.