In keeping with its commitment to support hazard mitigation planning efforts throughout the country, FEMA recently announced the date for its annual Hazard Mitigation (HM) Partners Workshop. This year’s event, which is themed “All Together for Climate Resilient Communities,” will be held virtually on October 16-19, 2023. The hours will run from noon – 4:45 PM Eastern Time (ET).

The HM Partners Workshop, as described by FEMA, is the annual gathering of hazard mitigation stakeholders with the purpose of informing and updating them about hazard mitigation grants and floodplain management, strengthening those relationships, and providing knowledge transfer between FEMA and invited attendees.

Among the topics to be discussed during the 2023 HM Partners Workshop are FEMA’s continued focus on partnerships, community-based efforts to prevent and reduce the risk of flooding, expanding access to Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant funding, and simplifying FEMA’s mitigation programs and processes to help the whole community build climate resilience.

Why climate resilience? Climate resilience, as understood and increasingly acted upon by the emergency management community, is the ability to prepare for, withstand, and recover from the challenges presented by climate change.

Climate change, which is today considered global in scope and unprecedented in scale, is resulting in rapid sea ice loss, accelerated sea level rise, and longer, more intense heatwaves. It is also considered the driving force behind long-lasting droughts, dangerous wildfires, and extreme rainfall, as well as stronger, more frequent weather events, including hurricanes.

Unfortunately, and as expressed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, “Taken as a whole, the range of published evidence indicates that the net damage costs of climate change are likely to be significant and to increase over time.”

Now, more than ever, it is crucial for state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments to understand the effects of climate change and to do everything possible to minimize risk to life and property. At BOLDplanning, a division of Agility, we believe this is best achieved through the development (and updating) of comprehensive hazard mitigation plans.

As a reminder, FEMA requires these plans to be updated every five years. If your community is to remain eligible for disaster funding, you will need to update your plans as needed.

So, again, save the date! The 2023 Hazard Mitigation Partners Virtual Workshop, October 16-19, 2023, will be an excellent opportunity to learn more on the timely and important subject and to improve your SLTT’s resilience in the years ahead. Visit FEMA.gov for future updates about the event.

Also, email info@BOLDplanning.com if you would like to learn more about how we can assist with your hazard mitigation planning needs.