The Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan identifies types of natural hazards that impact a jurisdiction, assesses each jurisdiction’s vulnerability to those hazards, and formulates mitigation strategies that will lessen the severity of natural disasters by protecting human life and property. Every five (5) years, Whatcom County submits an updated Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for approval by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The update process is important because it allows jurisdictions to identify changing hazards as populations move into new areas and to reprioritize mitigation strategies [or some such wording, i.e., the process is important regardless of FEMA funding]. FEMA approval allows Whatcom County to receive Federal funding for mitigation and pre-disaster projects to lessen the impact of disasters when they do happen. The current plan (indexed and linked below) was approved by FEMA in 2021.

• Acknowledgments, Introduction, Whatcom County Background
• Section 1: Plan Mission, Goals and Update Process
• Section 2: Hazard Summaries, Other Hazards of Concern
• Section 3: Jurisdiction Profiles and Mitigation Action Plans
  • City of Bellingham
  • City of Blaine
  • City of Everson
  • City of Ferndale
  • Whatcom County Flood Control Zone District
  • Lake Whatcom Water and Sewer District
  • City of Lynden
  • Meridian School District
  • City of Nooksack
  • Port of Bellingham
  • City of Sumas
  • Whatcom County
• Sections 4 and 5: Plan Maintenance and Appendices