Page No. Plan integration guide 3

Applicability to Users

In January 2014, FEMA Region III selected Cecil County, MD, as a pilot community for Plan Integration. The Plan Integration Guide was used to assist local officials with the Plan Integration process. Cecil County performed Plan Integration with the goal of making the County more resilient to disasters. FEMA Region III staff and the contractor reviewed a number of local plans and ordinances and identified areas for Plan Integration for discussion with the local officials. A full-day workshop was held in Elkton, MD, on 22 February 2014, for Cecil County departments and municipalities to engage in and embark on Plan Integration. Cecil County departments and municipalities worked closely to ensure each agency had a say in how and where their plans and ordinances should be integrated. The following is a list of plans and ordinances that were integrated. Appendix E shows how and where hazard mitigation principles were integrated into each plan/ordinance.

County Plans and Ordinances

2010 Cecil County Comprehensive Plan

2011 Cecil County Zoning Ordinance

2011 Cecil County Subdivision Regulations

Municipal Plans and Ordinances

2003 Elkton Downtown Master Plan

2013 Elkton Floodplain Ordinance – Title 15 – Ordinance 5

2013 Port Deposit Floodplain Management Ordinance

2009 Port Deposit Comprehensive Plan Water Resource Element

Charlestown Zoning Ordinance

Charlestown Subdivision Ordinance

2008 Charlestown Comprehensive Plan

2013 Perryville Zoning Ordinance Forest Conservation Chapter 48

2013 Perryville Zoning Ordinance Floodplain Management Chapter 46

2009 Chesapeake City Comprehensive Plan: A Plan for 2030

Inter-departmental coordination opportunities were identified and captured during a workshop conducted in November 2013. The workshop included a group discussion, which began role identification in the development process. The participants reviewed the guide questions to help develop a list of issues, goals, and actions. Municipal officials, county departments, and State agencies participated in the workshop.

Broward County identified hazard mitigation integration opportunities and existing examples as part of a Federal and State grant-funded process to establish a road map for Broward County stakeholders to make realistic incremental improvements toward making the County a model resilient, disaster resistant, and sustainable community. Plan Integration was accomplished during an 18-month planning process, in part, through the preparation of the 2011 Enhanced Local Mitigation Strategy (ELMS) (also known as the local Hazard Mitigation Plan) and creation of their Long-Term Recovery and Redevelopment Strategy (LTRRS) (also known as the Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan). A consultant was hired to facilitate both planning initiatives.

A Hazard Mitigation Integration report was prepared and included in the ELMS. The recommendations and observations were reviewed and approved by county staff. Several meetings were held with stakeholders to help them better understand how and when to include mitigation in particular processes. For example, to include mitigation measures into a construction project (maintenance or new construction), the mitigation measures would have to be included at the conceptual design phase 7 years before the project could be included (and funded) as a capital improvement project.

Inter-departmental coordination opportunities and existing examples were identified and captured in the LTRRS. This process involved facilitated workshops for nine function-based Technical Assistance Committees to develop post-disaster recovery and redevelopment Action Plans based on the National Disaster Recovery Framework.

Broward County has an advanced level of hazard mitigation integration in their plans, policies, and procedures. County staff has worked with a wide range of local, regional, State, and Federal stakeholders and partners to ensure that hazard mitigation is reflected in daily activities. Each of the 31 municipalities has participated in plan development and exercises that focus on inter-disciplinary collaborative efforts between departments and organizations for hazard risk reduction.

One of the resounding lessons learned during the 18-month planning process was hazard mitigation principles are most effectively and realistically integrated on a daily basis. Integration can be institutionalized in a community by embracing a mitigation mindset. A community does not need to wait several years to update their local Hazard Mitigation Plan, before considering integration. Appendix E shows how and where hazard mitigation principles were integrated into various plans/ordinances.

PART 5 – SUMMARY

What is Next after the Plan Integration Document is Developed

Develop the Plan Integration document and include it in the next plan update or as an appendix to the currently approved plan, at the end of the capabilities section.

Be sure to include each of the three parts of the Guide (with matrices) identified below and a conclusion that identifies gaps or deficiencies.

Part 1 – Integration of Hazard Mitigation Principles into Other Local Planning Mechanisms

Part 2 – Integration of Hazard Mitigation Principles into Comprehensive Plan Elements

Part 3 – Integration Across Agencies

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