Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

King County is updating the Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (RHMP), covering nearly 60 planning partners, including Mercer Island.

The update not only reassesses the County's risks and vulnerabilities to natural and human-caused hazards, it develops strategies to reduce risk to those hazards.

That's where you come in! We need your help prioritizing the strategies (projects) that will be included in the plan.

What Is Hazard Mitigation?

Hazard mitigation is the process of determining how to reduce or eliminate loss of life and property damage resulting from natural and human-caused hazards.

Hazard mitigation strategies are a set of coordinated actions that address a hazard or vulnerability.

What Is The King County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan?

Our region experiences significant impacts from both natural hazards (floods, storms, wildland fires, earthquakes, volcanoes) and manmade hazards (technological hazards, including nuclear power plant incidents, chemical weapon stockpiles, dam failures, hazardous material spills). To prepare for, and organize resources so loss can be prevented or minimized, state, county, and city officials must assess each hazard.

The King County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan (RMHP) addresses each hazard, describing actions, responsibilities, and related timelines. The King County RHMP is comprehensive, covering nearly 50 cities, towns, and special districts - including Mercer Island. The City develops its own risk-reduction strategies, which are then incorporated into the RHMP.

A successfully updated, complete plan is required for federal hazard mitigation assistance grants.

How Can I Participate?

We're so glad you asked!

We need you to take the survey and let us know what projects you think are the highest priority for the City. You can also share your mitigation project ideas through the Ideas section. We'll take all of the feedback from the survey and Ideas section, and incorporate the results into the updated plan we submit to King County.