Posting Language
Title
Approve a resolution adopting the City of Austin Hazard Mitigation Action Plan Update to include new and updated mitigation actions for hazards including cyber security threats, severe weather, and flooding, and to ensure that the City complies with eligibility requirements for certain federal disaster-related funding. Funding: This item has no fiscal impact.
De
Lead Department
Management Services - Austin Emergency Management
Fiscal Note
There is no fiscal impact.
For More Information:
Janet Pichette, Assistant Director, AEM janet.pichette@austintexas.gov <mailto:janet.pichette@austintexas.gov>
Sara Henry, Chief Administrative Officer, AEM, sara.henry@austintexas.gov <mailto:sara.henry@austintexas.gov>
Lupe Rios, Finance Manager, AEM, lupe.rios@austintexas.gov <mailto:lupe.rios@austintexas.gov>
Additional Backup Information:
Austin Emergency Management is requesting that the Austin City Council formally adopt the update to the City of Austin Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (HMAP). The plan is attached as back-up to this item.
The hazard mitigation planning process is a collaborative process between City departments, partner agencies, stakeholders, and the public to identify hazards that are likely to impact the community, how vulnerable the community is to those hazards, and strategies are identified to minimize or eliminate the risks.
On February 26, 2002, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published 44 CFR Parts 201 and 206- Hazard Mitigation Planning and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; Interim Final Rule in the Federal Register. This Rule, required by the Federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, outlines requirements for local government Hazard Mitigation Actions Plans.
For disasters declared after November 1, 2003, local governments must have an HMAP approved by FEMA to be eligible for certain disaster-related funding. This requirement rewards local pre-disaster planning, promotes sustainability as a strategy for disaster encourages resistance, and has as its aim, the strengthening of local and statewide mitigation planning. The City of Austin’s initial HMAP was completed and adopted by City Council and FEMA in 2004 and updated in 2010, 2016, and 2021. FEMA requires communities to update their approved HMAP every five years.
New mitigation actions have been identified to address hazards that are believed to be most likely for this area, including cyber security and updates to severe weather and flooding. City Council approved Resolution Number 20250410-015 <https://www.austintexas.gov/council/2025/20250410-reg>, which outlines the City’s role in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), and the Community Rating System (CRS) program that recognizes and encourages beneficial community floodplain management practices. This 2026 HMAP update directly benefits the community by satisfying one of the mandatory prerequisites of the CRS program to increase the discount on flood insurance policies, providing financial relief to home and business owners. Additionally, mitigation actions identified in the previous plan were evaluated and revised if needed. The process to update this plan takes more than a year and started with a hazard analysis and plan development in fall of 2024. The public engagement and final development of the update was completed in spring 2026.
The City submitted this 2026 HMAP update to the Texas Division of Emergency Management and to FEMA. FEMA granted approval for the City’s 2026 update to the HMAP on July 13, 2026.