Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

The City of West Linn's Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan (NHMP) identifies natural hazards that may impact our community and provides the CIty with a set of goals, action items, and resources designed to reduce risk from future natural disaster events. Engaging in mitigation activities provides jurisdictions with a number of benefits, including reduced loss of life, property, essential services, critical facilities, and economic hardship; reduced short-term and long-term recovery and reconstruction costs; increased cooperation and communication within the community through the planning process; and increased potential for state and federal funding for recovery and reconstruction projects. 

We welcome the community's feedback on our draft NHMP (attached below).

Please submit comments on the draft 2024 West Linn NHMP by 5 p.m., March 20, 2024 using the webform here!

The City of West Linn's NHMP will be included as addendum to the larger Clackamas County NHMP as we face many of the same natural hazards and coordinate on emergency preparation and response. The local planning process for this update included a wide range of representatives from city, special districts, county emergency management personnel, and the University of Oregon's Institute for Policy Research and Engagement.

• The City of West Linn is in the process of updating their existing 2019 Natural Hazards  Mitigation Plan (2019). The process should be complete in 2024, pending Oregon Department of Emergency Management, FEMA, and City Council approval. 
• Every five years, Federal guidelines require the City's addendum to the Clackamas County NHMP be updated and submitted to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for approval. 
• With readoption of a FEMA-approved NHMP, the City maintains its eligibility to apply for federal funding towards natural hazard mitigation projects. 
• This work is being performed in cooperation with the University of Oregon’s Institute for Policy Research and Engagement - Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) utilizing funds obtained from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. With re-adoption of the plan, West Linn will maintain its eligibility to apply for federal funding towards natural hazard mitigation projects. 

If you have any questions regarding the City’s NHMP addendum or the update process in general, please contact: Michael Howard (mrhoward@uoregon.edu), Director for the Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience at 541-346-8413; or Dylan Digby (ddigby@westlinnoregon.gov), Assistant to the City Manager.