What's Happening in La Palma, CA…

The City of La Palma recently commenced work on a five-year plan and is asking residents to let officials know what they think.

The city began working on a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP), an effort to detect and reduce threats to the community from both manmade and natural disasters. City staffers and public safety officials are preparing the plan, with help from technical consultants, stakeholders, and other agencies that could be affected by a disaster. City officials want to make certain the plan reflects the goals and concerns of members of the community, which is why they are asking for residents' input.

An LHMP is needed to help La Palma be proactive and have preparations in place before disaster strikes, rather than having to start over completely after an emergency occurs. Having a plan means that if a disaster does occur, it is easier for the community to recover, and the effects are minimized.

In addition to helping in recovery efforts, having a proactive approach to disasters saves money. Studies have estimated that every dollar used mitigating disasters before they occur saves four dollars, on average, in recovery and response costs. In addition, an LHMP will make La Palma eligible to receive grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the state as well.

Flyer printing can be used in situations like this to notify residents of the opportunity to share their opinions.