Natural Hazard Mitigation Planning
Umatilla County is in the process of updating its Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan for 2021 to ensure every community is prepared for potential disasters including storms, floods, wildfire, and other unexpected events.
The City of Hermiston and the other 11 incorporated cities of Umatilla County are teaming up with special districts and the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to create a plan that identifies likely hazards and what impacts they may have on residents and property. By preparing in advance, Umatilla County communities will have an action plan ready for a range of emergencies resulting from:
- Winter and summer storms
- Earthquakes
- Droughts
- Floods
- Volcanic events
- Landslides
- Wildfire
The plan will help reduce the impact of disasters on life and property, increase resilience by integrating hazard mitigation into local programs and policies, and maintain eligibility for state and federal disaster-related funding.
Because of its proximity to the Umatilla River, parts of Hermiston are susceptible to flooding, especially when combined with unusually high precipitation. Other hazards, including severe storms and droughts, have been a factor in recent years while seismic events like earthquakes and volcanic activity have the potential of bringing devastating effects.
Changes in climate and the ongoing interaction between natural and man-made environments makes it difficult to predict the timing or destructiveness of these natural hazards. But by analyzing the risk, setting goals, and identifying mitigation actions, the plan makes communities safer and more resilient.
The current Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan was created in 2014 and is intended to be updated every five years. The project is funded by the Department of and Conservation and Development. A draft of the proposed plan can be downloaded below.
