Cities Index.
Agenda packet

Ukiah City Council
September 2, 2026

Document
Agenda packet
Meeting
September 2, 2026
Body
Ukiah City Council
Pages
1,066
Original file
108.0 MB
Text extracted from the city's file for reading and search. Open the original on ukiahca.api.civicclerk.com. That file is the official record.

County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
244
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Julia Krog * Director of
Planning &
Building Services
Mendocino
County
Department of
Planning &
Building Services
Regulating Development
Juliana
Sanchez
Representative Mendocino Coast
Children’s Fund
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Julie EbyMcKenzieRepresentative North Coast
Regional Office
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Julie Golden MAC Chair Hopland
Municipal
Advisory Council
(HMAC)
Public
Justin
Buckingham
Division Chief Ukiah Valley Fire
Authority
Hazard Mitigation
Katrina
Kessen
Representative Greater Ukiah
Business &
Tourism Alliance
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Kelly Hansen Administrative
Analyst II
Mendocino
County Executive
Office
Hazard Mitigation
Kiley Heath
*
Risk Manager Mendocino
County Office of
Education
Businesses, Academia, Other Private
Interests
Leah
Sautelet
Emergency
Manager
Lake County OES Neighboring Communities
Lisa Guzman Representative Consolidated
Tribal Health
Project
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Liz Dorsey Executive
Director
Ukiah Senior
Center
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Liz Hamilton Emergency
Services Director
Trinity County Neighboring Communities
Loren Rex State Park
Superintendent
State Parks State Agencies

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
245
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Manny
Machado
Public
Information
Officer
Caltrans State Agencies
Mark Cliser * Senior Planner Mendocino
County
Department of
Planning &
Building Services
Regulating Development
Mark
Holgaard
Command Duty
Officer
US Coast Guard Regional Stakeholders
Marlayna
Duley
Director Mendocino
County
Environmental
Health
Hazard Mitigation
Martin
Janolo
Area 1 Engineer -

DWR DSOD
Division of Safety
of Dams
State Dam Safety Agency
Mary Norris Tribal
Government
Contact
Cahto Tribe of
Laytonville
Rancheria
Neighboring Communities
Matt
Matheson
Fire Chief Laytonville, Long
Valley Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation
Melissa
Kraemer
Representative Coastal
Commission:

North Coast
District
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Michael
Hunter
Representative Coyote Valley
Band of Pomo
Indians
Neighboring Communities
Michael
Reese
Fire Chief Albion- Little River
Fire Protection
District
Hazard Mitigation
Micheline
White
VOAD Chair VOADs Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Micheline
White
Representative Mendonoma
Health Alliance
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
246
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Michelle
Roberts
Representative Project Sanctuary Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Michelle
Schnitzius
Deputy Chief Little Lake Fire
Department
(Willits)
Hazard Mitigation
Michelle
Shaw
Representative Plowshares
Community Dining
Center
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Mike
Suddith *
Fire Chief Redwood Coast
Fire
Hazard Mitigation
Mitch
Franklin
Fire Chief Hopland Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation
Molly
Haviland *
City Manager City of Point
Arena
Regulating Development
Morgan Fox
*
Emergency
Services
Coordinator
Coastal RegionNorth
(Mendocino,
Lake)
Cal OES State Agencies
Moriah
McGill
Representative Northern Circle
Indian Housing
Authority
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Nadia Tipton
*
Admin Assistant Mendocino
County Office of
Education
Businesses, Academia, Other Private
Interests
Nicole
Glentzer *
Superintendent
of Schools
Mendocino
County Office of
Education
Businesses, Academia, Other Private
Interests
Otis
Brotherton
Representative Round Valley
Indian Health
Center – Covelo
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Patrick
Landergen
Fire Chief Piercy Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
247
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Paul
Anderson *
Assistant City
Manager
City of Point
Arena
Regulating Development
Peter
McNamee
Representative Grass Roots
Institute
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Ramon
Jimenez
Representative Mendocino
County Tourism
Commission-Visit
Mendocino
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Rich Noonan Fire Captain Hopland Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation
Richard
Baker *
Executive
Director
Willits Senior
Center
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Robert
Hoyle
Battalion Chief USFS - Mendocino
National Forest
Covelo
Federal Landowners
Robert
Juenling
MAC Chair Gualala Municipal
Advisory Council
(GMAC)
Public
Robert Scott MAC Chair Westport
Municipal
Advisory Council
(WMAC)
Public
Robert
Yuwiler *
Representative California Coast
Commission
Businesses, Academia, Other Private
Interests
Rod
Grainger *
Representative Mendocino
Community
Health Clinic
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Ronald Lee Representative Redwood Coast
Regional Center
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Ruben Rojas
*
Fire Chief Covelo Fire
Protection District
Hazard Mitigation
Russ Ford * Senior Planner Mendocino
County
Department of
Planning &
Building Services
Regulating Development

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
248
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Ryan Bartow
*
Director of
Maintenance
Operations
Mendocino
County Office of
Education
Businesses, Academia, Other Private
Interests
Ryan Derby Emergency
Manager
Humboldt County
OES
Neighboring Communities
Ryan LaRue Representative Rural
Communities
Housing
Development
Corporation
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Sage Limpp
*
Hazard
Mitigation
Coordinator
Sonoma County
Department of
Emergency
Management
Neighboring Communities
Samantha
Karges *
Emergency
Services
Coordinator
Cal OES State Agencies
Sarah
Bodnar
Representative West Business
Development
Center
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Sarah
McCormick *
Economic
Development
Manager
City of Fort Bragg Regulating Development
Sascha Kissel Fire Chief Whale Gulch
Valley Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation
Scott Cratty Mendocino
County Fire Safe
Council
Neighborhood
Fire Safe Councils
Hazard Mitigation
Sergio Perez Representative Nuestra Alianza de
Willits
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Seth Myrick Project Manager Mendocino
County Resource
Conservation
District
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
249
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Seth Strader
*
Public Works
Department
Analyst II
City of Ukiah Hazard Mitigation
Shannon
Riley *
Deputy City
Manager
City of Ukiah Hazard Mitigation
Shawn Davis Representative Scotts Valley Band
of Pomo Indians
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Sheila
Stewart
DR/Preparedness
Coordinator
Round Valley
Indian Tribes
Neighboring Communities
Sita Williams Representative Workforce
Alliance of the
North Bay
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Steve Amato Representative Mendocino
Cannabis Alliance
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Steve Orsi Fire Chief Fort Bragg Fire
Department
Hazard Mitigation
Swetha
Hiranya *
Senior City
Planner
City of Willits Regulating Development
Tami
Bartolomei *
Public Health -
Senior Program
Specialist
Mendocino
County
Department of
Public Health
Hazard Mitigation
Tarah Rhine
*
GIS Coordinator Mendocino
County GIS
Hazard Mitigation
Thomas
O'Neal *
Police Captain &
Emergency
Manager
City of Fort Bragg Hazard Mitigation
Tisha
Gonzalez
Representative Manchester-Point
Arena Band of
Pomo Indians
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Todd
Crabtree
Representative Community
Development
Commission of
Mendocino
County (CDC)
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Core Planning Team
250
Name Title Organization Organization Type
Traci Boyl * Emergency
Manager
City of Ukiah Hazard Mitigation
Travis
Killmer *
Chief Recovery
and Resiliency
Officer
Mendocino
County Office of
Emergency
Management
Hazard Mitigation
Valerie
Stanley
Tribal
Government
Contact
Sherwood Valley
Rancheria of
Pomo Indians
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Victoria Kelly Representative Redwood
Community
Services (RCS)
Nonprofit & Community Based Orgs.

Walter
Kolon *
Services and
Facilities Director
City of Willits Regulating Development
Xuyen
Mallela *
Executive
Division Manager
Mendocino
County Executive
Office
Hazard Mitigation

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Hazus Earthquake Summary Reports
251
Appendix E – Hazus Earthquake Summary Reports

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Plan Maintenance Resources
252
Appendix F – Plan Maintenance Resources
This appendix is provided to help guide and facilitate the annual plan monitoring and maintenance process.

Annual Maintenance Email Template
From: The County of Mendocino’s Chief Recovery and Resiliency Officer To: The County of Mendocino’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Partners (FEMA-approved Local Governments)
Subject: Hazard Mitigation Plan Annual Review Meeting
Hello,
You have been identified as the primary contact for your organization relating to the County of Mendocino’s Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). If there is an updated point of contact, please let me know.

This email relates to the annual maintenance process of the HMP. The county will be facilitating this plan review process, which is scheduled to follow the county’s attendance at the California Financing Coordinating Committee’s Fall Funding Fair.

Following is the meeting’s agenda:
• Funding opportunities
• Recent hazard events (capture loss details)
• Past action status reporting
• New actions
• Cross-jurisdictional projects
• Review of action prioritization
• Mitigation successes (actions not captured in HMP) & benefits of implementation • Integration with other planning mechanisms
• Needed plan amendments
• CRS overview and alignment with the HMP
This year’s HMP review meeting will be held on xx/xx/xxxx [In-person, Hybrid, or Virtually]. In preparation for this meeting, you are asked to report on the implementation status of your organization’s mitigation strategy. Attached is a guide and associated reporting spreadsheet to help Planning Partners capture this information.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
Plan Maintenance Resources
253
Annual Maintenance Guide
This guide has been developed to assist Planning Partners in annual maintenance reporting.

Please return this information prior to the annual maintenance meeting.

Planning Partner:

Past Action Status Reporting
Provide status updates for each of your local government’s mitigation actions identified in the 2026 HMP. See the separately provided spreadsheet for reporting. Planning Partners can use this opportunity to reprioritize any of the actions.

Mitigation Progress (if applicable)
Use this section if Planning Partners would like to document any additional mitigation progress.

This can include grant funding secured and the benefits of completed projects (losses avoided, etc.).

New Mitigation Actions (if applicable)
Planning Partners can use this annual HMP maintenance process to identify additional mitigation actions to document in the plan. Provide the following details for any new actions to be included in the HMP.

Mitigation Action & Details:

Local Government Lead:

Partnering Organization(s) – If applicable:

Primary Hazard Mitigated:

Priority (High, Medium, or Low):

Timeframe for Completion:

Potential Funding Sources – If applicable:

Mitigation Challenges (if applicable)
Use this section if Planning Partners would like to document any additional mitigation implementation challenges.

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ATTACHMENT 2
- The City of Ukiah ----

PLANNING PARTNER ANNEX
HAZARD

MITIGATION
PLAN
2026
City of Ukiah

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
2 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 3 2 MITIGATION STRATEGY........................................................................................................... 5

2.1 MITIGATION GOALS ........................................................................................................ 5

2.2 2021 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 5

2.3 2026 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 6

2.4 MITIGATION CAPABILITIES............................................................................................ 10

2.5 COMPLIANCE WITH FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS...................................................... 13

2.6 PLANNING INTEGRATION.............................................................................................. 13

2.7 CONTINUING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT............................................................................ 14

2.8 CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES......................................................................... 14 3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT............................................................... 16

3.1 HAZARD RISK RANKING................................................................................................. 16

3.2 EXPOSURE ANALYSIS..................................................................................................... 16

3.3 DAM & LEVEE FAILURE.................................................................................................. 21

3.4 DROUGHT...................................................................................................................... 24

3.5 EARTHQUAKE ................................................................................................................ 26

3.6 EXTREME COLD OR FREEZE........................................................................................... 27

3.7 EXTREME HEAT ............................................................................................................. 28

3.8 FLOOD (INLAND) ........................................................................................................... 28

3.9 MASS EARTH MOVEMENTS: LANDSLIDE, ROCK FALLS, & DEBRIS FLOWS.................... 31

3.10 SEVERE STORMS............................................................................................................ 33

3.11 WILDFIRE....................................................................................................................... 34 APPENDIX A ADOPTION RESOLUTION .......................................................................................... 39 Professional planning services for this plan update were provided by:

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Introduction 3
1 Introduction
FIGURE 1 shows the City of Ukiah boundaries. The following city staff members participated in the HMP planning process and provided input to inform this Annex. A detailed list of the planning roster is provided in Appendix D of the Base Plan. • Emergency Manager
• Chief Resiliency Officer
• Director of Community Development
• Water Resources Director
• Public Works Department Analyst II
• Deputy City Manager
In addition to the public engagement outlined in the Base Plan, the City of Ukiah supported efforts through social media, engagement with city staff, and press releases in the local newspaper, The Ukiah Daily Journal, about the public survey. Additionally, the city engaged many of the non-profits and community-based organization stakeholders listed in Section 2 of the Base Plan through the stakeholder survey. Of the stakeholders who responded to the survey, the Ukiah Senior Center and the West Business Development Center, which serves all incorporated municipalities in the county, have an office in Ukiah. The Ukiah Senior Center serves seniors and adults with disabilities within city limits. The Senior Center noted past impacts on these vulnerable populations from the COVID-19 pandemic and extreme heat events and is very concerned about future impacts from extreme heat events. They also noted being somewhat concerned about future impacts of extreme cold or freeze, severe storms, and wildfire events on these populations.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Introduction 4
Figure 1 City of Ukiah Boundaries

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 5
2 Mitigation Strategy
The mitigation strategy is a central component of the hazard mitigation plan (HMP) and the primary outcome of the planning process. This strategy serves as a long-term framework for reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. While this document begins by focusing on the mitigation strategy, it is important to acknowledge the various components that informed the planning process. These inputs included decisions and information from the Planning Partners, Core Planning Team (CPT), and general public, in addition to the results of the risk and vulnerability assessment. All of this information is captured in detail across the County of Mendocino Base Plan and this City of Ukiah Annex.

2.1 Mitigation Goals
The City of Ukiah has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Core Planning Team and described in Section 1.1 of the Base Plan.

2.2 2021 Mitigation Actions
The following list provides details on the progress made toward implementation of the 2021 mitigation actions for the City of Ukiah. Additional details about the status of implementation can be found in the Base Plan HMP Appendix B.
• Complete
o (ma-DR-UK-64) Develop a climate action plan and/or drought contingency plan.
• On-Going
o (ma-AH-UK-70) Create a GIS-based pre-application review for hazard areas. o (ma-EQ-UK-277) Encourage seismic evaluation of private critical facilities. o (ma-FL-UK-75) Retrofit wastewater and potable water facilities. o (ma-FL-UK-78) Reinforce city and local ramps, bridges, and roads. o (ma-WF-UK-60) Implement fuel modification program.
o (ma-WF-UK-74) Create a vegetation management program for vulnerable residents.
o (ma-WF-UK-289) Implement CWPP projects.
o (ma-WF-UK-296) Develop cost-share program for fireproofing. o (ma-EQ-UK-280) Develop an outreach and education program for unreinforced masonry buildings.
o (ma-WF-UK-285) Coordinate with County on wildfire shelters outside of city limits.
• In Progress
o (ma-AH-UK-276) Construct backup generators at critical facilities.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 6
o (ma-CC-UK-297) Continue the installation of purple pipe. o (ma-EQ-UK-77) Seismically retrofit or replace public works facilities. • No Progress – Continue Action
o (ma-FL-UK-62) Manage vegetation near rights-of-way and critical facilities. • No Progress – No Longer a Mitigation Priority
o (ma-DF-UK-73) Develop public outreach on voluntary flood insurance. o (ma-EQ-UK-278) Install seismic gas shut-off valves.
o (ma-FL-UK-76) Acquire/relocate/elevate RL properties. o (ma-PN-UK-281) Assess and institute necessary upgrades to critical facilities for use during pandemics.
o (ma-PN-UK-282) Institute necessary structural improvements to evacuation centers and sheltering locations to meet pandemic requirements. o (ma-PN-UK-283) Develop alternative sheltering/evacuation locations for social distancing.

2.2.1 Mitigation Successes
The city has identified several mitigation successes since the last HMP update, including:
• “Ready Together” public hazard seminars
• Improved partnerships across water and fire districts • Achievements realized by the City’s Fuels Crew
• The undergrounding of utility lines
• Drone power line inspections and fuels reduction efforts • Finalization of the 2025 City Climate Action Plan
• Development of a recycled water system (the first three of 4 phases are now complete)
• The creation of the Heat Watching campaign to assess community risk • Storm drain installations along main transportation corridors, including portions of Perkins, Gobbi, Low Gap, Dora, and Main Streets.
• Reduced intrusion and infiltration of the city’s stormwater system • City Parks gap analysis
• City rehabbed wells and preventative maintenance

2.3 2026 Mitigation Actions
The City of Ukiah identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the results of the risk assessment, mitigation capability assessment, and public survey input. Refer to the HMP Base Plan – Appendix C for complete details of each of the mitigation actions listed below.

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 7

2.3.1 Coastal Hazards
No known hazard areas within the local government’s boundaries. No perceived risk, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.2 Dam and Levee Incident
• Low Priority
o (UK1) Dam Incident Coordination & Planning. Coordinate with County OES and dam operators to improve public education, alert, and warning procedures, and emergency response planning for potential dam-failure events affecting downstream communities.

2.3.3 Drought
• High Priority
o (UK2) Intertie Water Systems. Physically intertie disconnected neighboring water systems.
• Low Priority
o (UK3) Managed Aquifer Recharge Program. Assess implementation of a Flood-MAR (Managed Aquifer Recharge) program.
o (UK17) Expanding Recycled Water. Continue the installation of purple pipes throughout the city to create a more diversified and drought-resilient water supply. (past action ma-CC-UK-297)

2.3.4 Earthquake
• High Priority
o (UK18) Critical Facility Seismic Retrofits. Seismically retrofit or replace public works and/or emergency response facilities that are necessary during and/or immediately after a disaster or emergency. (past action ma-EQ-UK-77) o (UK19) Private Critical Facility Seismic Assessments. Encourage privately owned critical facilities (e.g. churches, hotels, other gathering facilities) to evaluate the ability of the buildings to withstand earthquakes and to address any deficiencies identified. (past action ma-EQ-UK-277) • Medium Priority
o (UK4) Unreinforced Masonry Building Educational Campaign. Develop an outreach and education program for owners and tenants in downtown unreinforced masonry buildings to understand earthquake risks and precautions and, for owners, to understand retrofitting options and available funding mechanisms. This annual campaign will occur in the fall, coinciding with Great ShakeOut activities. (past action ma-EQ-UK-280)

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 8

2.3.5 Extreme Cold or Freeze
• Low Priority
o (UK5) Warming Center Educational Campaign. Develop an educational campaign to inform at-risk populations annually during the Winter about warming center resources. Efforts will include coordination with warming centers run by area non-profits and religious organizations.

2.3.6 Extreme Heat
• High Priority
o (UK6) Tree Canopy Expansion. Implement tree canopy increases as identified in the 2025 Climate Action Plan.

2.3.7 Flood (Inland)
• Medium Priority
o (UK7) Waterway Flood Mitigation. Vegetation removal and channel maintenance along city waterways.
o (UK20) Water System Retrofits. Retrofit wastewater and potable water facilities that are subject to flooding. Retrofitting activities may include elevating vulnerable equipment, electrical controls, and other equipment, fastening and sealing manhole covers to prevent floodwater infiltration, and protecting wells and other potable water from infiltration and flood damage by raising controls and well pipes. (past action ma-FL-UK-75) o (UK21) Reinforce Transportation Infrastructure. Reinforce city and local ramps, bridges, and roads from flooding through protection activities, including elevating the road and installing culverts beneath the road or building a higher bridge across the area that experiences regular flooding. (past action ma-FL-UK-78)

2.3.8 Mass Earth Movements
• Low Priority
o (UK8) Localized Landslide Risk Assessment. Develop improved, localized landslide risk data to guide future mitigation efforts.

2.3.9 Severe Storms
• High Priority
o (UK9) Right of Way / Lifeline Vegetation Management. Manage vegetation in areas within and adjacent to rights-of-way and in close proximity to critical facilities and power lines in order to reduce the risk of tree failure and property damage. Efforts will also help to avoid the creation of wind acceleration corridors within vegetated areas. (past action ma-FL-UK-62)

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 9

2.3.10 Tsunami
No known hazard areas within the local government’s boundaries. No perceived risk, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.11 Wildfire
• High Priority
o (UK13) Home Wildfire Mitigation Educational Campaign. Develop an annual public education campaign focused on encouraging structural hardening and defensible space to be broadcast from the Spring through Fall. o (UK22) Fuels Reduction Program. Implement a fuel modification program and code requirements. (past action ma-WF-UK-60)
o (UK24) CWPP Implementation. Implement CWPP projects in partnership with County, Fire Safe Council, and CAL FIRE. (past action ma-WF-UK-289) • Medium Priority
o (UK11) City Building Wildfire Assessment Program. Develop a regular inspection program of city buildings to recommend and implement structural hardening and defensible space activities.
o (UK12) Evacuation Center Coordination. Coordinate with the county on identifying designated evacuation shelters outside of the city limits in the event of a wildfire. (past action ma-WF-UK-285)
o (UK23) Under-resourced Resident Vegetation Management. Create a vegetation management program that provides vegetation management services to elderly, disabled, or low-income property owners who lack the resources to remove flammable vegetation from around their homes. (past action ma-WF-UK-74)
o (UK25) Home Hardening & Defensible Space Grants. Develop a cost share program for residential mitigation and retrofits to be more fireproof. (past action ma-WF-UK-296)
• Low Priority
o (UK14) Mobile Dispatch / Command Center. Acquire a mobile dispatch/command center.
o (UK15) Hazard Area Pre-application Review. Create a GIS-based preapplication review for new construction and major remodels of residential and/or non-residential structures in hazard areas, such as high and/or very high wildfire areas. (past action ma-AH-UK-70)

2.3.12 Multi-Hazard
• High Priority

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 10
o (UK16) Critical Facility Generators. Construct backup generators at critical facilities (fire stations) to respond to hazard events in loss of power. (ma-AHUK-276) o (UK 26) Development of a Climate Adaptation & Resilience Strategy (CARS).

This plan will address drought, wildfire, flooding, extreme heat, and other associated natural hazards.

2.4 Mitigation Capabilities
Planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities are powerful tools for implementing hazard mitigation. The city currently utilizes or has implemented many of these capabilities, as shown in the lists below.

2.4.1 Planning and Regulatory Capabilities
• Building Codes
o 2022 California Building Code
• Zoning Ordinance
o Ord. 1244 Adds Div. 9, Ch. 2, Arts. 5.3 and 5.4; amends §§ 9016, 9031, 9046, 9061, 9081 and 9096, accessory dwelling units (9-2) [Effective Oct 4, 2024] o Ord. 1248 Amends zoning map (Special) [Effective Nov 15, 2024] o Ord. Amends §§ 6093(A), 6094, Div. 9, Ch. 2, Arts. 10, 13, 15.7, §§ 9254, 9261 and 9278, agricultural uses and cannabis businesses (7-1, 9-2) [Effective Apr 4, 2025]
• Subdivision Ordinance
o Ord. 1249, §2, adopted 2024; facilitates subdivisions via Senate Bill 9 • Hazard-Specific Ordinance – Yes
o 1256 Designates fire hazard severity zones (Special) [Effective Jul 18, 2025] o Ord. 238 Amends Div. 6, Ch. 3, Art. 1, §§ 5216, 5218 and 5223, fire prevention code (6-3) [Effective Apr 5, 2024]
• Site Plan Review Requirements
o Review required for all new developments by the Planning Services Division and cooperating agencies.
• Capital Improvement Program or Plan (CIP)
o City of Ukiah Five Year CIP Plan
• Erosion / Sediment Control Program
o Ord. 1116, §1, adopted 2009
• Stormwater Program, Plan, or Ordinance
• Seismic Safety Program (Non-Structural)
o Seldom used or limited presence.
• Earthquake Modernization Plan (Building Safety)

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 11
o Seldom used or limited presence.
• General Plan Safety Element
o Resolution No. 2022-79
o Resolution No. 2022-78 (adopted 12/7/2022)
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
• Local Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participant
o Entry Date: 7/19/1982
o 9.17.26 Adopted Updated FEMA Maps
• Floodplain Ordinance
o Adopted New Ordinance 2025
• Flood Insurance Rate Map / DFIRM
o Current Effective Map: 9/19/2025
o Initial FIRM Identified: 7/19/82
• Flood Insurance Study
o 9/1/2022
• Other
o Climate Action Plan adopted on May 21, 2025
o Continuity of Operations (COOP) Plan

2.4.2 Administrative and Technical Capabilities
• Planner/Engineer (Land Development)
o Community Development Department, Planning Services
• Engineer/Professional (Construction)
o Department of Public Works
• Floodplain Administrator
o Department of Public Works
• Public Information Officer
• GIS Specialist and Capability
o GIS Analyst Hired in 2025
• Emergency Manager
o Office of Emergency Management
• Building Official
o Building and Code Enforcement Services
• Grant Writing / Management
o Additional Staff Hired in 2023 - 2026
• Warning Systems / Services
o MendoAlert and Nixle Alerts
• Mutual Aid

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County of Mendocino Hazard Mitigation Plan
City of Ukiah Planning Partner Annex
Mitigation Strategy 12
o Both Police and Fire utilize Mutual Aid to assist with public safety response.

Additionally, the city entered into an MOU to provide mutual aid with the neighboring jurisdictions ( City of Fort Bragg, City of Willits, City of Point Arena, City of Clearlake, City of Lakeport, County of Mendocino) The Agreement # 2023-097, states, " for use during an emergency to maximize the utilization of available supplies, distribution facilities, equipment, and personnel to prevent and combat the effects of disasters".

2.4.3 Financial Capabilities
• Levy for Specific Purposes with Voter Approval
o The October 2021 annexation of the City of Ukiah into the Ukiah Valley Fire Protection District, extending the District’s voter-approved parcel taxes to city parcels, creating a dedicated funding source for fire protection and hazard mitigation.
• Utilities Fees
• System Development / Impact Development Fee
• General Obligation Bonds to Incur Debt
• Special Tax Bonds to Incur Debt
• Withheld Spending in Hazard-Prone Areas
• Stormwater Service Fees
• Capital Improvement Project Funding
o City of Ukiah Five Year CIP Plan.

2.4.4 Education and Outreach Capabilities
• Website Dedicated to Hazard Topics
• Social Media
• Public Hazard Education / Outreach Program/Hazard awareness campaigns (ie.

Firewise, Storm Ready, Severe Weather Awareness Week, school programs, public events)
• Community Newsletter
• Fire Safe Councils
o The Western Hills Fire Safe Council successfully applied to become a Fire Wise Community in 2025. The community consists of 2000 homes in the western part of the valley, primarily consisting of wildfire urban interface areas.
• Local Citizen Groups That Communicate Hazard Risks
o The Western Hills Fire Safe Community and Council which encompass a large portion of the city and some of the most vulnerable neighborhoods in regards to wildland fire provide regular ongoing communication/education to the public and their members.

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• Other Relevant Programs or Organizations
o The Mendocino County Resource Conservation District has implemented a wide range of programs across the County.

2.4.5 Capability Enhancements
The city plans to expand several specific capabilities over the next five years, as outlined in the 2026 Mitigation Actions section, which also details initiatives that strengthen these mitigation efforts. One priority is developing a wildfire assessment program for city buildings.

2.5 Compliance with Floodplain Requirements
The following list provides details on the city's NFIP participation and current policy coverage. • Date of Entry: 7/19/1982
• Initial FHBM Identified: 8/9/1974
• Initial FIRM Identified: 7/19/1982
• Policies in Force: 186
• Total Coverage: $46,679,000
As of July 31, 2025, 31 policy claims had been made and paid, totaling $544,099 in payments, including building and content values since 1980. The city has one repetitive loss property and no severe loss properties.

The city’s NFIP compliance is implemented through the City of Ukiah Director of Public Works as the appointed Floodplain Administrator to implement and enforce the provisions of Division 9, Chapter 6 Floodplain Management Ordinance of the City Code and other appropriate Sections of 44 CFR (National Flood Insurance Program regulations) pertaining to floodplain management.

Details on compliance with floodplain requirements and substantial damage/substantial improvement rules are provided in the Base Plan, section 1.5, Compliance with Floodplain Requirements.

2.6 Planning Integration
Integrating the HMP into other planning mechanisms is crucial for effectively implementing the mitigation strategy. This also benefits communities by preventing conflicts among planning documents. The city incorporated the 2021 HMP into several relevant plans, including their General Plan Update, Safety Element Update, Fire Authority Strategic Plan, and Municipal Service Review.

The City of Ukiah plans to integrate the 2026 HMP into several efforts, including the Safety Element Update planned for June 2027, the annual Capital Improvement Plan updates, updates to the EOP and COOP, and future mitigation grant applications.

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2.6.1 Incorporation of Existing Plans and Information
All HMP-relevant existing plans, studies, reports, data, and technical information were reviewed during the planning process. The following list provides an overview of how City of Ukiah resources were incorporated into the 2026 HMP. Refer to the Base Plan for a complete list of existing plans and information that was incorporated into this HMP. • These plans helped to inform the hazard profiles
o City of Ukiah General Plan/Safety Element
o 2020 Urban Water Management Plan
o 2021 Ukiah Valley Basin Groundwater Sustainability Plan o 2025 City of Ukiah Climate Action Plan (Also helped to inform the mitigation strategy)

2.7 Continuing Public Engagement
The city plans to continue public hazard and mitigation engagement through the following tools:
• Hazard education and booth materials at trainings and public events over the course of the year
• The newly developed Emergency Management Newsletter (only to city staff) • Through regular inserts in the city utility bills
• Through regular social media posts from the Office of Emergency Management • The planned public web map viewer that will present all updated hazard layers developed over the past year

2.8 Changes in Community Priorities
Since the previous plan, the city has noticed increased public attention following the release of updated wildfire risk and floodplain maps. Impacts on home insurance prices and availability are also driving increased attention towards hazards and their mitigation.

2.8.1 Development Trends
The City of Ukiah has not experienced any development changes in the past five years that have increased its vulnerability. In terms of future development, the city does not expect increased vulnerability to drought or severe storms, but there will be greater exposure to both hazards if growth occurs. All future developments will raise exposure to ember-driven wildfires, though installing adequate defensible space and home hardening can help reduce this risk. In comparison, future development is not expected to increase earthquake vulnerability, as it will adhere to the latest building codes. The city does not foresee future development increasing exposure to dam inundation zones, flooding, or mass earth movement. Additionally, future

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growth and development are unlikely to heighten vulnerability to extreme cold, freezing events, or extreme heat events.

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3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

3.1 Hazard Risk Ranking
TABLE 1 shows the rankings for the City of Ukiah. Due to the city’s inland location away from the coast and lack of past event impacts it was determined that coastal hazards and tsunamis are not a mitigation priority.

Table 1 City of Ukiah Hazard Risk Ranking
Hazard Risk Rank
Coastal Hazards (Flood, Sea-level rise, Erosion) Not Applicable Dam & Levee Incidents Low
Drought High
Earthquake High
Extreme Cold or Freeze Low
Extreme Heat High
Flood (Inland) Moderate
Mass Earth Movements (landslides, rock falls, debris flows) Moderate Severe Storms Low
Tsunami Not Applicable
Wildfire High

3.2 Exposure Analysis
A lifeline and structure analysis was conducted to identify and assess key assets located within designated hazard risk areas across the city. The results of this analysis support the identification of vulnerabilities within essential systems, thereby informing more targeted and effective mitigation and emergency response strategies.

3.2.1 Lifelines
The lifeline analysis for the City of Ukiah identified 71 total structures within city boundaries, as summarized below and shown in FIGURE 2. “Footprint” hazards, those with clearly defined boundaries, were evaluated to determine the total number and types of community lifelines exposed within these areas. Additionally, narratives from the Ukiah Steering Committee

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highlight critical facility assets that were not captured in the quantitative analysis, providing important context for understanding local vulnerabilities. • Safety and Security: 19 locations
• Food, Hydration, Shelter: 15 locations
• Health and Medical: 11 locations
• Energy: 0 locations
• Communications: 6 locations
• Transportation: 18 locations
• Hazardous Materials: 0 locations
• Water Systems: 2 locations

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Figure 2 FEMA Lifelines in the City of Ukiah

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3.2.2 Parcel Inventory
A countywide analysis was also conducted on parcels exposed to various footprint hazards affecting the City of Ukiah. Because this analysis was performed at the parcel level, any parcel with even a portion intersecting a hazard area is considered at risk. Consequently, structures located on these parcels may not be directly within the hazard zone. A summary of the total parcel inventory for the City of Ukiah is illustrated in FIGURE 3. There are 5,280 parcels identified by the county in the city, with land and improved values of $586 million and $1.2 billion, respectively1.
1 Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Figure 3 Parcels in the City of Ukiah

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3.3 Dam & Levee Failure

3.3.1 Past Events
There have been no reported dam or levee failures that have impacted the City of Ukiah in the past.

3.3.2 Location
FIGURE 4 shows the inundation areas of the dams near the City of Ukiah. The Coyote Valley Dam, which forms Lake Mendocino, is a High Hazard Potential dam that lies upstream (north) of the city on the East Fork of the Russian River. The inundation areas flowing from east of the city are along Mill Creek and stem from two upstream dams, Mendocino 3 Upper and Mendocino Middle.

FIGURE 5 shows the areas north of the city that are protected by levees.

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Figure 4 Dam Inundation Areas in the City of Ukiah

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Figure 5 Leveed Areas near City of Ukiah

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3.3.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
People in affected areas may need to evacuate quickly with little warning. Older adults, AFN populations, low-income households, and residents without reliable transportation may face greater difficulty responding.

3.3.3.1 Community Lifelines
The exposure analysis determined that no lifeline structures are located within the dam inundation areas in the City of Ukiah. However, the Ukiah Steering Committee provided a narrative that the PG&E substation, along with several water and wastewater treatment systems essential to the city’s operations, are situated within these areas of concern.

3.3.3.2 Parcels
A total of 25 parcels that lie partially within the City of Ukiah boundary are in dam inundation areas. Although the dam inundation zones do not extend fully into city limits, they are directly adjacent, resulting in some parcels being partially exposed. Because these parcels span both inside and outside the city boundary, only portions of them are likely to experience impacts from a potential dam incident. There are 25 parcels exposed to inundation mapping, with land and improved values of $4.1 million and $870 thousand, respectively2.

3.4 Drought

3.4.1 Past Events
According to records from the U.S. Drought Monitor, during the 1,305-week period from January 1, 2000, through January 1, 2025, the City of Ukiah spent 671 weeks (51% of the time period) in some level of drought, defined as Abnormally Dry (D0) or worse conditions. This period includes 333 weeks of Severe Drought (D2), 132 weeks of Extreme Drought (D3), and 43 weeks of Exceptional Drought (D4). FIGURE 6 illustrates these periods of extreme and exceptional drought, including the duration of these occurrences and the range of affected county percentages.
2 Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Figure 6 Periods of Drought in the City of Ukiah, January 2000 – January 2025 According to the CPT during the 2021 Drought event the City of Ukiah sent water to the City of Fort Bragg and other coastal communities due to the lack of water availability.

Figure 7 Governor Newsom at Lake Mendocino during the 2021 Drought Source: The Press Democrat

3.4.2 Location
The entire City of Ukiah is vulnerable to the impacts of drought.

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3.4.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Ukiah Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to drought events.
• City parks and golf courses currently use treated drinking water for irrigation • Loss of hydroelectric power during drought (hydro = 35% of City’s supply). Additional energy storage and local electric production could mitigate this power loss. • The Division of Water Resources classifies the Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin as a medium-priority subject to the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act. The Ukiah Valley Groundwater Basin underlies the Ukiah Valley and the Redwood Valley, and the Russian River runs the entire length of the Basin. • Drought can affect people through water restrictions, increased costs, and reduced access to reliable water. Older adults, medically fragile residents, low-income households, renters, and residents with limited English proficiency may have fewer resources to adapt.

3.5 Earthquake

3.5.1 Past Events
The Ukiah General Plan reports a magnitude 5.6 earthquake in the area in 1869. Several earthquakes in the 4-range, with the strongest at M 4.9, occurred in 1977-78. Since 2004, Ukiah has experienced 5.0 and 5.1 magnitude earthquakes in 2016. The August 2016 quake caused minimal home damage. The region between Healdsburg and Ukiah typically sees an earthquake roughly every 15 years. The December 2016 quake had its epicenter only 24 miles from Ukiah.

Refer to Section 4.8 Earthquake of the Base Plan for a list of past earthquake events that have impacted Mendocino County and the City of Ukiah.

3.5.2 Location
The Northern section of Maacama fault is closest to the City of Ukiah. Refer to Section 4.8 of the Base Plan for the location of fault lines in the county that could cause earthquake events in the city.

3.5.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Ukiah Steering Committee developed the following problem statements that identify local vulnerability to earthquakes.
• Critical facilities in the violent shake zone for Maacama/Garberville include water and wastewater treatment plants, the state fairgrounds, and the fire stations. May not be properly retrofitted or with inside bracing.
• At least 3 groundwater pumping wells may not function post-earthquake.

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• Fire Stations do not meet seismic requirements for emergency/ essential facilities.

Talmage Fire Station is at high risk and is a converted warehouse/ commercial facility that does not likely have any earthquake bracing or retrofitting • Downtown Ukiah has many unreinforced masonry (URM) buildings • Residential renters in upstairs apartments in older URM buildings may not be aware of earthquake vulnerability
• Many residential and commercial buildings in Ukiah are likely soft floor construction. • Loss of power from a second hazard event (flood, wildfire, earthquake), hospitals and critical elderly care facilities need back up generators. • Only 1 fire station (Central) has backup power.
• People in older buildings, unreinforced masonry structures, soft-story buildings, and older downtown upper-story apartments may face greater risk. • Renters, older adults, people with disabilities, and lower-income households may face greater challenges evacuating and recovering.

3.6 Extreme Cold or Freeze

3.6.1 Past Events
The City of Ukiah has an average minimum temperature of 45°F annually. While these temperatures are generally above freezing at 32°F, the city hit a low of 18°F on December 9, 2013. According to the California Fourth Climate Change Assessment, North Coast Region Report, Ukiah experienced over 20 frost protection events in 2008. That year, many vineyards using surface water stored in small ponds for sprinkler frost protection were affected.

3.6.2 Location
The entire City of Ukiah is vulnerable to the impacts of extreme cold or freeze.

3.6.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Ukiah Steering Committee developed the following problem statement, which identifies local vulnerability to extreme cold or freeze events.
• Under-resourced or socially vulnerable populations would benefit from formalized warming centers.
• Cold temperatures can create health risks for people without reliable heat, shelter, transportation, or backup power. Older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, low-income households, and medically dependent residents may be more vulnerable.
• There are no concerns with any specific critical infrastructure, though pipe freezing can impact all structures.

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3.7 Extreme Heat

3.7.1 Past Events
The City of Ukiah's average maximum temperature during the summer months (June, July, August) is 92°F. According to temperatures recorded at the Ukiah Municipal Airport, the longest heat wave was 58 consecutive days with a maximum temperature above 90°F recorded between June 24, 2021, and August 20, 2021. Ukiah's daily extreme high temperature was 117°F on July 6, 2024.

The stakeholder, Ukiah Senior Center, Inc., which serves seniors and adults with disabilities in the Ukiah area, indicated that excessive heat has previously affected these populations and is very concerned about the impacts of extreme heat on them in the future.

3.7.2 Location
The entire City of Ukiah is vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat.

3.7.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Ukiah Steering Committee developed the following problem statement, which identify local vulnerability to extreme heat events.
• Under-resourced or socially vulnerable populations would benefit from formalized cooling centers.
• Older adults, AFN populations, residents with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness, and households without reliable cooling or transportation may be most vulnerable.
• There are no concerns with any specific critical infrastructure.

3.8 Flood (Inland)

3.8.1 Past Events
The Ukiah Safety element of the city’s General Plan notes that the Russin River on the eastern portion of the city has been a repeated source of flooding and the primary risk for the city.

Significant flood events on the Russian River were recorded in 1964 and 1974. Other past flood problems for the city have been experienced on Orr Creek, Doolin Creek, and Gibson Creek but are less documented. Refer to Section 4.11 Flood of the Base Plan for a list of past flood events that have impacted Mendocino County and the City of Ukiah.

3.8.2 Location
A map of the FEMA flood zones and the Floodplain Awareness Zones in the City of Ukiah is shown in FIGURE 8.

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Figure 8 Flood Zones in City of Ukiah

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3.8.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
People in lower-cost housing, rental units, mobile homes may face greater exposure. Residents with limited mobility, income, transportation, or English proficiency may need additional support to receive warnings, evacuate, and recover.

3.8.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis identified lifelines within the 100-year and 500-year floodplains, with no lifeline structures located directly in flood-risk zones. Transportation lifeline structures were identified as the most at-risk structure type in the City of Ukiah. A summary of the analysis by lifeline type is provided below.
• Safety and Security: 0 locations in the 100-year floodplain, 0 locations in the 500-year floodplain
• Food, Hydration, Shelter: 1 location in the 100-year floodplain, 1 location in the 500- year floodplain
• Health and Medical: 1 location in the 100-year floodplain, 2 locations in the 500-year floodplain
• Energy: 0 locations in the 100-year floodplain, 0 locations in the 500-year floodplain • Communications: 0 locations in the 100-year floodplain, 0 locations in the 500-year floodplain
• Transportation: 12 locations in the 100-year floodplain, 14 locations in the 500-year floodplain
• Hazardous Materials: 0 locations in the 100-year floodplain, 0 locations in the 500-year floodplain
• Water Systems: 1 location in the 100-year floodplain, 2 locations in the 500-year floodplain
The Ukiah Steering Committee identified several key community narratives highlighting floodrelated vulnerabilities. During significant flood events, access to neighborhoods, particularly Vichy Springs and Talmage, can be restricted, limiting emergency response and isolating residents. Critical infrastructure is also at risk, as a PG&E substation located within the floodplain near the Oak Manor neighborhood faces threats of inundation. Communities in the Oak Manor area already experience repetitive flood-related damages and frequent power interruptions, while residents along tributaries to the Russian River on the west side of town regularly lose electricity when transformers are inundated and must be powered down for safety.

3.8.3.2 Parcels
There are 1,253 parcels exposed to the 100-year floodplain, with land and improved values of $143 million and $318 million, respectively. Within the larger 500-year floodplain, 2,123 parcels

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are exposed, with land and improved values of $272 million and $634 million, respectively3. The City of Ukiah has no designated flood awareness zones.

3.9 Mass Earth Movements: Landslide, Rock Falls, & Debris Flows

3.9.1 Past Events
There have not been any mass movement events unique to the City of Ukiah. FIGURE 9 shows the location of landslide risk areas in the City of Ukiah. 3 Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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3.9.2 Location
Figure 9 Landslide Risk Areas in the City of Ukiah

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3.9.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
Residents may also become isolated or have difficulty reaching essential services. These impacts may be greater for people with limited mobility, limited transportation, or limited access to emergency information.

3.9.3.1 Community Lifelines
The City of Ukiah has no identified exposure to post-wildfire debris flows. However, the community lifeline analysis determined that eight lifeline structures are located within areas susceptible to landslides (high-very high risk), with Safety and Security assets representing the most at-risk category. A summary of these findings is provided below. • Safety and Security: 4 locations
• Food, Hydration, Shelter: 2 locations
• Health and Medical: 0 locations
• Energy: 0 locations
• Communications: 2 locations
• Transportation: 0 locations
• Hazardous Materials: 0 locations
• Water Systems: 0 locations
Additionally, the Ukiah Steering Committee noted that mudflows from tributaries west of town regularly generate debris accumulations that block stormwater drainage systems, intensifying the impacts of flood events and disrupting the Transportation, Water, and Safety & Security lifelines.

3.9.3.2 Parcels
There are 903 parcels exposed to high and very-high risk areas, with land and improved values of $96 million and $203 million, respectively4. No debris flow or rockfall risk areas have been mapped within the city boundaries.

3.10 Severe Storms

3.10.1 Past Events
The following records are noted in the NCEI Storm Events database as severe storm events directly impacting the City of Ukiah or the Ukiah Valley area. Only one event recorded casualties.
• February 13, 2000 - Strong winds (50 knots/58 mph) and heavy rains caused numerous power outages, downed trees and light damage to fences and windows.

An oak tree in Ukiah blew down on a mobile home, killing the occupant. 4 Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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• December 29, 2022 - Deep-layer westerly flow occurring along a zonally oriented quasi-stationary frontal boundary yielded a multi-day atmospheric river event across Northwest California during late December. Widespread impacts due to heavy rain and strong winds were observed across the region. Heavy rain caused a rockslide to spread across Route 253 between Ukiah and Boonville. One of two lanes was blocked.
• January 7, 2023 - A multi-day atmospheric river continued across Northwest California during early to mid January. Impacts from heavy rain and strong winds (29 knots/33 mph) were numerous across the region. A large oak tree fell onto Jones Street in Ukiah. Power lines were cut as a result.
• February 4, 2024 - A cyclone bombed very close to the central California coast developing widespread damaging wind gusts across Mendocino and Lake counties.

Wind gusts between 50 and 68 mph were measured in the hills surrounding Hopland to Ukiah and surrounding communities. Numerous power outages were reported caused by downed trees. Ukiah only remained powered because of backup power generators.

3.10.2 Location
The entire City of Ukiah is vulnerable to the impacts of severe storms.

3.10.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Ukiah Steering Committee developed the following problem statement, which identifies local vulnerability to severe storm events.
• Concern with downed trees and branches affecting power lines, critical facilities, and private residences and businesses.
• There are no concerns with any specific critical infrastructure vulnerabilities to severe storms, though the resulting flooding could lead to losses. • Older adults, medically dependent residents, mobile home residents, and households without backup power or reliable transportation may be more vulnerable.

3.11 Wildfire

3.11.1 Past Events
FIGURE 10 shows the location of past wildfire events and fire incidents that have taken place within the City of Ukiah and near the city’s boundaries.

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3.11.2 Location
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) classify areas as having moderate, high, or very high wildfire hazard based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind conditions that influence fire behavior and spread (CAL FIRE). State Responsibility Areas (SRA) are generally rural or undeveloped lands where CAL FIRE provides wildland fire protection, while Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are more developed areas where fire protection is provided by local fire agencies. For the purposes of this analysis, SRA and LRA were mapped together to provide full coverage of the planning area. Risk analysis focused on assets located within high to very high FHSZ, which represent the greatest wildfire hazard. FIGURE 11 shows the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Ukiah.

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Figure 10 Historical Wildfire Perimeters in the City of Ukiah

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Figure 11 Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Ukiah

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3.11.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
Older adults, people with disabilities, residents without reliable vehicles, renters, lower-income households, and people with respiratory conditions may face greater challenges during response and recovery.

3.11.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis for areas of high to very high wildfire risk in the City of Ukiah identified 13 lifeline structures exposed to these hazards. A summary of these findings is provided below.
• Safety and Security: 1 location
• Food, Hydration, Shelter: 7 locations
• Health and Medical: 3 locations
• Energy: 0 locations
• Communications: 2 locations
• Transportation: 0 locations
• Hazardous Materials: 0 locations
• Water Systems: 0 locations
Additionally, the Ukiah Steering Committee identified several vulnerabilities related to wildfire events and their potential impacts on FEMA Community Lifelines. Development near the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) on the east side of the city, limited evacuation access west of town, and older wooden construction in the city center increase risks to the Safety & Security, Transportation, and Community Shelter lifelines. While the City can serve as an evacuation center for inland wildfires, concerns exist about compounding hazards such as drought or pandemics, and current shelters may be insufficient in a major fire event.

3.11.3.2 Parcels
There are 2,159 parcels exposed to high and very-high risk areas, with land and improved values of $208 million and $435 million, respectively5. 5 Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Appendix A Adoption Resolution

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TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 3 2 MITIGATION STRATEGY........................................................................................................... 5

2.1 MITIGATION GOALS ........................................................................................................ 5

2.2 2021 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 5

2.3 2026 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 7

2.4 MITIGATION CAPABILITIES............................................................................................ 10

2.5 PLANNING INTEGRATION.............................................................................................. 12

2.6 CONTINUING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT............................................................................ 12

2.7 CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES......................................................................... 13 3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT............................................................... 14

3.1 HAZARD RISK RANKING................................................................................................. 14

3.2 COASTAL HAZARDS: FLOODING, SEA LEVEL RISE, EROSION......................................... 14

3.3 DAM & LEVEE FAILURE.................................................................................................. 15

3.4 DROUGHT...................................................................................................................... 16

3.5 EARTHQUAKE ................................................................................................................ 16

3.6 EXTREME COLD OR FREEZE........................................................................................... 17

3.7 EXTREME HEAT ............................................................................................................. 18

3.8 FLOOD (INLAND) ........................................................................................................... 18

3.9 MASS EARTH MOVEMENTS: LANDSLIDE, ROCK FALLS, & DEBRIS FLOWS.................... 19

3.10 SEVERE STORMS............................................................................................................ 20

3.11 TSUNAMI....................................................................................................................... 21

3.12 WILDFIRE....................................................................................................................... 21 APPENDIX A ADOPTION RESOLUTION .......................................................................................... 23 Professional planning services for this plan update were provided by:

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1 Introduction
FIGURE 1 shows the school districts within Mendocino County. The following Mendocino County Office of Education (MCOE) and district staff members served as the MCOE Steering Committee for the HMP planning process and provided input to inform this Annex. A detailed list of the planning roster is provided in Appendix D of the Base Plan. • Superintendent of Schools – Nicole Glentzer
• Risk Manager – Kiley Heath
• Admin Assistant – Nadia Tipton
• Directors of Maintenance Operations
o Fort Bragg Unified School District – Barry Silva
o Mendocino County Office of Education – Ryan Bartow
o Ukiah Unified School District – Gabe Sherman
In addition to the public engagement outlined in the Base Plan, MCOE supported efforts through engagement with and a survey of district staff. Additionally, MCOE engaged many of the non-profits and community-based organization stakeholders listed in Section 2 of the Base Plan through the stakeholder survey.

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Figure 1 Mendocino County Office of Education Boundaries

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2 Mitigation Strategy
The mitigation strategy is a central component of the hazard mitigation plan (HMP) and the primary outcome of the planning process. This strategy serves as a long-term framework for reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. While this document begins by focusing on the mitigation strategy, it is important to acknowledge the various components that informed the planning process. These inputs included decisions and information from the Planning Partners, Core Planning Team (CPT), and general public, in addition to the results of the risk and vulnerability assessment. All of this information is captured in detail across the County of Mendocino Base Map and the County Office of Education Annex.

2.1 Mitigation Goals
The Mendocino County Office of Education has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Core Planning Team and described in Section 1.1 of the Base Plan.

2.2 2021 Mitigation Actions
The following list provides details on the progress made toward implementation of the 2021 mitigation actions for MCOE. Additional details about the status of implementation can be found in the Base Plan HMP Appendix B.
• On-Going
o (ma-AH-MCOE-169) Integrate annual communications lists, which include amateur radio operators, into Emergency Operations Plan to mitigate communications failures during regional disasters.
o (ma-WF-MCOE-243) Install back-up generators at essential district facilities that currently lack back up power generation.
o (ma-AH-MCOE-255) Develop disaster warning system framework to disseminate information to districts, faculty, students, and families before, during, and after natural hazard events.
o (ma-DF-MCOE-256) Participate in County-wide warning system program, detailed in MC-199 of Vol. 1 of this HMP, led by the County as a participating jurisdiction.
o (ma-DR-MCOE-229) Replace sports fields with irrigated turf grass with artificial turf that doesn't require watering.
o (ma-DR-MCOE-230) Retrofit landscape with drought tolerant plant species and ground cover to minimize water use.
o (ma-DR-MCOE-232) Develop a drought management/contingency plan to minimize the adverse impacts of drought on faculty, students, and facilities.

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o (ma-EQ-MCOE-249) Conduct seismic evaluations for buildings on AB300 List and buildings acquired by the district built prior to 1978 that have not been addressed.
o (ma-EQ-MCOE-250) Complete DSA retrofits for nonwood frame structures built before July 1, 1978 (Category 2 Buildings) on AB300 list that require detailed seismic evaluation.
o (ma-EQ-MCOE-251) Repair and seismically upgrade, or remove from inventory, and replace with permanent buildings, portable classrooms, and other essential facilities in portable structures. Structurally reinforce (by securing to the ground) certain portable classrooms for seismic conditions, where adequate per Code and cost-effective. Support additional portable classroom requirements in more cost-effective than permanent construction.
o (ma-EQ-MCOE-252) Install seismic shut-off valves on gas fixtures on all school facilities.
o (ma-EQ-MCOE-253) Retrofit non-compliant suspended ceilings in district buildings. This includes non-structural suspended gypsum dry-wall & cement plaster ceilings built 1950-1974.
o (ma-EQ-MCOE-254) Draft and adopt an emergency operations plan that identifies and plans for alternative transportation routes in case of a natural disaster during school operating hours.
o (ma-EW-MCOE-209) Implement a tree removal program for trees that are at a high risk to snapping in wind events (i.e. big cypress trees) around Office of Education facilities and infrastructure.
o (ma-FL-MCOE-245) Rehabilitate school site drainage systems. o (ma-EW-MCOE-257) Upgrade HVAC systems that are adequate to handle projected future temperature increases and heat waves.
o (ma-FL-MCOE-247) Regrade selected sites to facilitate better drainage. o (ma-FL-MCOE-248) Repair and maintain erosion on retention and detention basins for school sites.
o (ma-PN-MCOE-244) Assess and institute necessary upgrades to critical facilities to allow for usage during emergencies, including adequately filtered ventilation, fresh air options, and physical barriers.
o (ma-WF-MCOE-240) Implement a defensible space program to include clearing of excessive fuels (trees, shrubs, brush) around school and administrative facilities and installation of landscaping materials that create defensible space. o (ma-WF-MCOE-241) Enhance building ventilation systems for wildfire smoke by improving air filtration options
o (ma-WF-MCOE-242) Retrofit school facilities with fireproof building materials to better withstand potential impacts of wildfire.

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2.3 2026 Mitigation Actions
MCOE identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the results of the risk assessment, mitigation capability assessment, and public survey input. Refer to the HMP Base Plan Appendix C for complete details of each of the mitigation actions listed below, and Base Plan section 1.3 for information pertaining to action prioritization.

2.3.1 Coastal Hazards
• Medium Priority
o (MCOE2) Conduct a localized vulnerability study for all facilities at risk from coastal hazards.
• Low Priority
o (MCOE4) Elevate at risk infrastructure and buildings.

2.3.2 Dam and Levee Failure
• High Priority
o (MCOE5) Participate in county-wide warning system program, led by the county as a participating jurisdiction. (previously ma-DF-MCOE-256) • Low Priority
o (MCOE6) Emergency planning and studies for dam/levee failure scenarios.

2.3.3 Drought
• High Priority
o (MCOE7) Identify secondary water sources or additional water storage for schools on wells. Leggett is a priority.
o (MCOE8) Develop a drought management/contingency plan to minimize the adverse impacts of drought on faculty, students, and facilities. (previously maDR-MCOE-232) • Medium Priority
o (MCOE10) Retrofit landscape with drought tolerant plant species and ground cover to minimize water use. (previously ma-DR-MCOE-230) • Low Priority
o (MCOE9) Replace sports fields with irrigated turf grass with artificial turf that doesn't require watering. (previously ma-DR-MCOE-229)
o (MCOE11) Install infrastructure to permit the use of reclaimed water for landscaping.

2.3.4 Earthquake
• High Priority
o (MCOE12) Conduct building seismic assessments for all schools. To include a review of unsecured contents and non-structural elements of all buildings. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE-249)

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o (MCOE13) Complete DSA Retrofits for nonwood frame structures built before July 1, 1978 (Category 2 Buildings) on AB300 list that require detailed seismic evaluation. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE-250)
o (MCOE14) Repair and Seismically Upgrade, or remove from inventory, and Replace with permanent buildings, Portable Classrooms AND other essential facilities in portable structures. Structurally reinforce (by securing to the ground) certain portable classrooms for seismic conditions, where adequate per Code and cost-effective. Support additional portable classroom requirements in more cost-effective than permanent construction. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE-251) o (MCOE15) Coordinating countywide MOUs through the County of Mendocino for all districts.
o (MCOE16) Install gas shutoff valves on all buildings. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE252) o (MCOE17) Retrofit non-compliant suspended ceilings in district buildings. This includes Non-Structural Suspended Gypsum Dry-Wall & Cement Plaster Ceilings built 1950-1974. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE-253)
• Medium Priority
o (MCOE18) Draft and adopt an emergency operations plan that identifies and plans for alternative transportation routes in case of a natural disaster during school operating hours. (previously ma-EQ-MCOE-254)

2.3.5 Extreme Cold or Freeze
• Low Priority
o (MCOE19) Conduct an assessment of insulation and heating needs for all schools.

2.3.6 Extreme Heat
• High Priority
o (MCOE20) Purchase equipment for sports teams to address heat stress. o (MCOE21) Continue to develop and update Heat Injury Illness Prevention Plans (HIIPP).
• Medium Priority
o (MCOE22) Upgrade/retrofit buses to include air conditioning. Ensure this is a standard feature on all new vehicles.
o (MCOE30) Upgrade HVAC systems that are adequate to handle projected future temperature increases and heat waves. (previously ma-EW-MCOE-257)

2.3.7 Flood (Inland)
• High Priority
o (MCOE23) Regrade selected sites to facilitate better drainage. (previously ma-FLMCOE-247) o (MCOE24) Repair and maintain erosion on retention and detention basins for school sites. (previously ma-FL-MCOE-248)

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• Low Priority
o (MCOE25) Conduct planning to identify transportation and access issues that can impact all schools. Develop mitigation solutions to these problems.

2.3.8 Mass Earth Movements
• Medium Priority
o (MCOE26) Install retaining walls or implement site-specific mitigation for schools in affected areas. Whale Gulch is a priority.

2.3.9 Severe Storms
• High Priority
o (MCOE27) Develop a formal vegetation removal and tree management program. (previously ma-EW-MCOE-209)
o (MCOE28) Rehabilitate school site drainage systems. (previously ma-FL-MCOE245) o (MCOE29) Hardening of all schools to include necessary roof and window replacements.

2.3.10 Tsunami
• High Priority
o (MCOE31) Conduct evacuation planning for all coastal schools, including how to address transportation logistics.
o (MCOE32) On-going annual student and faculty training and education on communication protocols and siren coverage.
o (MCOE33) Evaluate the need for backup communication systems for tsunami alerts.

2.3.11 Wildfire
• High Priority
o (MCOE34) Enhance building ventilation systems for wildfire smoke by improving air filtration options. (previously ma-WF-MCOE-241)
o (MCOE35) Assessment of schools in Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and/or new high/extreme fire zones per updated CAL FIRE maps.
o (MCOE36) Hardening all structures in high hazard zones. o (MCOE37) Conduct an assessment to identify which schools require priority upgrades or hardening. (previously ma-WF-MCOE-242)
o (MCOE38) Upgrade fire notification systems where needed. o (MCOE39) Vegetation and fuel reduction around school properties to ensure adequate defensible space. (previously ma-WF-MCOE-240)
o (MCOE40) Conduct an ingress/egress study of all schools to determine the prioritization of constructing additional roadways.

2.3.12 Multi-Hazard
• High Priority

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o (MCOE1) Purchase and install backup generators for all schools. Hazards Address: Coastal Hazards, Flood (Inland), Severe Storms o (MCOE41) Install back-up generators at essential district facilities that currently lack back-up power generation. (previously ma-WF-MCOE-243) o (MCOE42) Develop a disaster warning system framework to disseminate information to districts, faculty, students, and families before, during, and after natural hazard events. (previously ma-AH-MCOE-255)
o (MCOE43) Assess and institute necessary upgrades to critical facilities to allow for usage during emergencies, including adequately filtered ventilation, fresh air options, and physical barriers. (previously ma-PN-MCOE-244) • Medium Priority
o (MCOE3) Replacement and/or improvements to antiquated storm drain infrastructure. Hazards addressed: Coastal Hazards, Dam and Levee Failure, Flood (Inland).
o (MCOE44) Integrate annual communications lists, which include amateur radio operators, into the Emergency Operations Plan to mitigate communications failures during regional disasters. (previously ma-AH-MCOE-169)

2.4 Mitigation Capabilities
Planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities are powerful tools for implementing hazard mitigation. The district currently utilizes or has implemented many of these capabilities, as shown in the lists below.

2.4.1 Planning and Regulatory Capabilities
• Building Codes
o Public K–12 schools in California must adhere to a comprehensive set of building codes and safety regulations. All new construction and renovations for these schools are governed by the California Building Standards Code (Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations), which is updated on a 3-year cycle (the 2022 Edition is the current version in force as of 2025). Title 24 encompasses requirements for structural/seismic safety, fire and life safety, accessibility, energy efficiency, and sustainable (“green”) design. Compliance is not optional – state law (the Field Act) mandates that public school buildings meet these standards and undergo strict oversight.
• Capital Improvement Program or Plan (CIP)
o Larger districts have formal capital plans, smaller district capital expenditures are more responsive than planned.
• Seismic Safety Program (Non-Structural)
o Annual participation in the Great Shakeout earthquake drill. • Earthquake Modernization Plan (Building Safety)

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o Routine safety inspections include earthquake damage resistance/mitigation. • Local Emergency Operations Plan
o Required by the state.
• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
o Capacity varies by district. Note: COOP information is captured in the Emergency Operation Plans (EOP) and also within the Instructional Continuity Plan (ICP) within the Comprehensive School Safety Plan (CSSP).
• Other
o Annual Fire Prevention Plans focus on landscape maintenance and fire suppression equipment at all sites. Capacity varies by district.

2.4.2 Administrative and Technical Capabilities
• Emergency Manager
o A number of individuals support this role, prioritized in the following order: 1.

Nicole Glentzer, Superintendent, 2. Heather Rantala, Assistant Superintendent of Business and Administration, 3. Nicole Odell, Assistant Superintendent for Ed Services, and 4. Becky Jeffries, Human Resource Director • Public Information Officer
o Capacity varies by district.
• Grant Writing / Management
• Mutual Aid
o Capacity varies by district, but many larger districts do have.

2.4.3 Financial Capabilities
• General Obligation Bonds to Incur Debt
o Large districts have active bond programs.
• Capital Improvement Project Funding
o Large districts have active bond programs.
• Special Tax Bonds to Incur Debt
o Large districts have active bond programs.
• Other
o State and federal grant programs.

2.4.4 Education and Outreach Capabilities
• Social Media
o Handled individually at the district level.
• Public Hazard Education / Outreach Program/Hazard awareness campaigns o Great Shakeout
• Office Newsletter
o The Superintendent of the Mendocino County Office of Education sends out a weekly newsletter to District Superintendents and many districts also have their own.

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• Website Dedicated to Hazard Topics
o Not a dedicated website, but updates to hazardous incidents are posted as a banner on the website.
o Information is also posted to the MendoReady website

2.4.5 Capability Enhancements
The following lists the specific capabilities that MCOE will work to expand over the next five years. The 2026 Mitigation Actions section also includes several actions that enhance these mitigation capabilities.
• MCOE is focused on stabilizing its maintenance operations and has recently hired a new Director to ensure hazard mitigation remains a primary focus. • MCOE will encourage all school districts to update their Emergency Operations Plans (EOP) and Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) over the next five years. • MCOE serves as the central hub for disseminating county emergency information to local districts, while simultaneously utilizing Titan HST and ParentSquare to alert its own faculty and families. This ensures a synchronized response across the region, allowing individual districts to activate their unique communication platforms and protocols.

2.5 Planning Integration
Integrating the HMP into other planning mechanisms is crucial for effectively implementing the mitigation strategy. This also benefits communities by preventing conflicts among planning documents. MCOE and its 12 school districts utilized the 2021 HMP during the development of multiple mitigation grant applications. The previous plan was also consulted during planning for and implementation of the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and deferred maintenance projects.

Some districts also consulted the previous plan’s risk assessment when updating their staterequired EOPs.

MCOE plans to use and integrate the updated HMP in the same way it used the previous HMP.

The updated HMP will be referenced and used during the development of mitigation grant applications. The plan’s mitigation strategy will also inform the regular updates to the Capital Improvement Plan. The risk assessment will be consulted when implementing deferred maintenance projects, and school districts will continue to reference the HMP when updating EOPs.

2.6 Continuing Public Engagement
MCOE plans to continue public hazard and mitigation engagement through the following approaches:

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• Future monthly Superintendent meetings will include discussions on hazards and mitigation, with plans to involve the Directors of Maintenance from each district. There is also a plan to schedule dedicated meetings specific to mitigation implementation with these directors twice a year.
• The school districts collect stakeholder input through existing systems such as the facilities inspection tools (FIT), insurance assessments, facilities master plans, board meetings, and annual fire inspections. All of this publicly reported information will allow the general public to track mitigation progress made and new actions identified over the next five years. The public can request additional information relating to the HMP during public comment opportunities at the school district level.

2.7 Changes in Community Priorities
Wildfire remains the top hazard concern for MCOE. The updated state mapping has shown an increased wildfire risk across all districts since the last HMP was developed. MCOE also noted that climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of wildfires, droughts, and extreme weather events such as high winds, extreme heat, and flooding. This will impact the schools in various ways, such as unhealthy air quality requiring more filtration of ventilation systems, lack of adequate water to meet domestic and landscape needs, public safety power shutoffs disrupting water sources, classroom ventilation, loss of refrigeration, and thus stored food.

2.7.1 Development Trends
MCOE has not seen any new development changes in the past five years that have increased its vulnerability since the last hazard mitigation plan. Regarding future development, there are no plans to build any new schools in the near future. The only related activities would involve rehabilitating or updating existing schools. Such work will decrease overall vulnerability to most hazards because of the effectiveness of current building codes and regulations.

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3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

3.1 Hazard Risk Ranking
TABLE 1 shows the rankings for the County Office of Education. Refer to Section 4 of the Base Plan for the county’s overall risk rankings.

Table 1 Mendocino County Office of Education Hazard Risk Ranking Hazard Risk Rank
Coastal Hazards (Flood, Sea-level rise, Erosion) Moderate Dam & Levee Incidents Moderate
Drought Moderate
Earthquake High
Extreme Cold or Freeze Low
Extreme Heat Moderate
Flood (Inland) High
Mass Earth Movements (landslides, rock falls, debris flows) Low Severe Storms Moderate
Tsunami Moderate
Wildfire High

3.2 Coastal Hazards: Flooding, Sea Level Rise, Erosion

3.2.1 Past Events
Because MCOE’s boundaries align with the county's boundaries, past coastal hazard events noted in the county's Base Plan align with MCOE’s past events.

3.2.2 Location
Schools located on the coast are susceptible to coastal hazards and their effects.

3.2.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to coastal hazard events.
• Coastal schools, especially Manchester and Point Arena, are vulnerable to coastal hazards and the resulting evacuation challenges.

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• Smaller coastal schools may lack backup generators and reliable communication systems, increasing vulnerability during extended emergencies. • Charter schools on the coast may face additional transportation and evacuation challenges due to a lack of buses.
• Hazards could potentially strand students and could cut off food service to Manchester. • Coastal flooding, sea-level rise, erosion, and storm surge can affect students, staff, and families in coastal school communities. These hazards may create evacuation, reunification, and access challenges during the school day. Young students, students with disabilities, and families without reliable transportation may need additional support.

3.3 Dam & Levee Failure

3.3.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past dam and levee failure events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.3.2 Location
Schools and facilities in Willits, Ukiah, and Leggett are located within dam and levee inundation zones. These are the top assets of concern. Charter schools in these areas may also face similar risk.

3.3.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to dam and levee failure events.
• Schools and facilities in Willits, Ukiah, and Leggett were identified as vulnerable due to their location in dam and levee inundation zones. Charter schools in these areas are also potentially at risk.
• Specific locations located within dam inundation areas include the Ukiah maintenance yard, Ukiah Unified Technology Office, Willits High School, Ukiah Unified District Service Center, Oak Manor Elementary School, Hopland Elementary School, and all Mendocino College sites.
• Dam or levee incidents can create life-safety and evacuation concerns for schools, staff, students, and families in affected areas. Schools may need to move students quickly or support reunification with caregivers. Students with disabilities, medically fragile students, and younger children may require additional assistance.

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3.4 Drought

3.4.1 Past Events
Due to the MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past drought events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.4.2 Location
Drought is a significant hazard that can affect the entire population of Mendocino County, directly or indirectly.

3.4.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to drought events.
• Water supply issues for schools, especially those relying on wells (Mendocino, Laytonville, Leggett, Round Valley, Potter Valley, and Anderson Valley). Leggett is a specific concern that has had previous issues. Top assets of concern are dated water systems.
• Many facilities rely on irrigation for turfgrass and landscaping. • The inability to irrigate school fields during drought can lead to canceled sporting events, landscape damage, and injuries.
• There is a lack of reclaimed water infrastructure for field irrigation. Ukiah has access, but it has not yet utilized this alternative due to budget constraints. • The increased wildfire risk due to dried vegetation. Especially concerned for Laytonville, Round Valley, and Anderson Valley.
• Drought can affect school communities through water restrictions, heat-related conditions, and added stress on families. Low-income families, medically fragile students, and rural school communities may have fewer resources to adapt.

3.5 Earthquake

3.5.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past earthquake events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.5.2 Location
As noted in the Base Plan, this updated HMP utilized FEMA’s Hazus 6.1 software to estimate losses from future seismic events. As in the previous HMP, this analysis focused on two scenarios with the highest likelihood of producing a large earthquake in the next 30 years. The Maacama Garberville (7.4 magnitude) and the North San Andreas (7.8 magnitude) ShakeMap scenarios, developed by the USGS, provided data relating to peak ground velocity, peak ground acceleration, and peak spectral accelerations. The following is a summary of impacts to schools

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in the county based on the results from the analysis. Refer to section 4.8 Earthquake of the Base Plan for a complete summary of the results.
• Maacama Fault – 72 total schools; 6 at least moderate damage (>50%) on day of event. 38 with functionality (>50%) on day 1.
• North San Andres Fault – 72 total schools; 71 will have functionality (>50%) on day 1.

3.5.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to earthquake events.
• Power outages and loss of communication are significant concerns, impacting school operations and emergency response.
• Lack of seismic shut-off valves on gas meters in some facilities. • Unknown vulnerabilities exist within buildings related to unsecured contents and nonstructural elements. • Damage to computers and IT-related equipment.
• Suspended ceilings in older school buildings (pre-1976). • Transportation routes that schools rely on could be damaged or destroyed. • Earthquakes can cause injuries, displacement, and reunification challenges during or after the school day. Younger students, students with disabilities, and medically fragile students may need additional evacuation and sheltering support.

3.6 Extreme Cold or Freeze

3.6.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past extreme cold or freeze events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.6.2 Location
While the entire Office of Education is vulnerable to the effects of extreme cold, the extent of those effects differs between coastal and inland areas. Refer to section 4.9 Extreme Cold or Freeze in the Base Plan for the varying average minimum temperatures across the county.

3.6.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to extreme cold or freeze events.
• Frozen pipes at some district schools.
• Hazardous road conditions can impact access and student safety when traveling to/from school.
• Heating system failures during cold periods could necessitate school closures.

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• Cold or freeze events can create health risks for students and staff without reliable heat, shelter, or transportation. These impacts may be greater for low-income families, students experiencing homelessness, medically fragile students, and rural students with long travel distances.

3.7 Extreme Heat

3.7.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past extreme heat events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.7.2 Location
While the entire Office of Education is vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat, the extent of those impacts differs between coastal and inland areas. Refer to section 4.10 Extreme Heat in the Base Plan for the varying average maximum temperatures across the county.

3.7.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to extreme heat events.
• Disruption to the school day due to high temperatures and stressed HVAC and electrical systems.
• There is now a need for air conditioning on school buses as heat events become more frequent and intense during the school year.
• Increased requirements for sports equipment and planning to address heat stress. • Extreme heat can create serious health risks for students, staff, athletes, outdoor workers, and people in classrooms or facilities without reliable cooling. • Young children, medically fragile students, students with disabilities, and staff with chronic health conditions may be more vulnerable.

3.8 Flood (Inland)

3.8.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past flood events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.8.2 Location
Inland flooding primarily affects low-lying areas near rivers, streams, and floodplains throughout the county. Schools in the Ukiah Valley are more vulnerable during severe storm events that cause the Russian River to overflow its banks. Refer to section 4.11 Flood (Inland), in the Base Plan for floodplains within the county.

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3.8.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerabilities to flooding.
• Access problems for schools due to flooded roads, impacting transportation and the ability to get students to school. There is particular concern for coastal schools and the flooding impacts from the Navarro River to State Highway 1. Students could be stranded, and food service to Manchester would be cut off due to flooding of the Garcia River. Concern also exists for students on the east side of the Ukiah Valley relating to Russian River flooding.
• Old and inadequate storm drain systems at many schools. • Power outages and loss of communication (internet, phone lines) during storms are significant concerns, impacting school operations and emergency response. • Flooding concerns persist in Leggett Valley Unified, and Hopland Charter is at particular risk due to its location on the Russian River corridor. Laytonville High School routinely experiences flooding, threatening buildings and equipment. Hopland Elementary & Ukiah Unified Schools are located in the 100-year flood plain. • Heavy rain events create localized flooding issues, including pooling of water around the foundations of school facilities.
• Power outages during significant storms can lead to school closures and issues such as spoiled food and non-functioning toilets.
• Flooding can create life-safety, transportation, and reunification challenges for schools and families. Students and staff may be affected if roads, bus routes, or school access points become unsafe.
• Younger students, students with disabilities, and families without reliable transportation may need additional support during evacuation or early dismissal.

3.9 Mass Earth Movements: Landslide, Rock Falls, & Debris Flows

3.9.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past mass earth movement events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.9.2 Location
The location of mass earth movement areas in Mendocino County is shown in section 4.12 Mass Earth Movements in the Base Plan.

3.9.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to mass earth movement events.

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• Travel and communication disruptions for schools due to landslides, rockfalls, and debris flow.
• Whale Gulch was mentioned as a school potentially at risk due to its hilly location. • These hazards may isolate students, staff, or families from schools and essential services. Rural students, students with disabilities, and families with limited transportation may be more affected.

3.10 Severe Storms

3.10.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past severe storm events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.10.2 Location
Severe Storms are significant hazards that have the potential to affect the entire population of the County Office of Education, either directly or indirectly.

3.10.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to severe storm events.
• Power outages and loss of communication (internet, phone lines) during storms are significant concerns, impacting school operations and emergency response. • Power outages during significant storms, leading to school closures and issues such as spoiled food and non-functioning toilets. Those most at risk include Ft. Bragg, Mendocino, and Anderson Valley.
• High winds causing power outages and breaking windows, with specific incidents reported at Potter Valley.
• Roof damage and the need for roof replacements due to wind. • Vegetation and tree damage, requiring preemptive or responsive tree removal after storms.
• Severe storms can expose students, staff, and families to hazardous travel, power outages, falling trees, and displacement.
• School closures, early dismissals, and communication disruptions can create added challenges for working families and caregivers.
• Medically fragile students, students with disabilities, and low-income families may need additional support.

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3.11 Tsunami

3.11.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past tsunami events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.11.2 Location
Tsunami areas affect the entire coastal region of the county; refer to section 4.14 Tsunami of the Base Plan for the risk areas. As noted in the Base Plan, low-lying coastal areas and the river valleys of the Navarro, Albion, Noyo, Garcia, and Ten Mile rivers could experience inundation.

The wave run-up is not projected to reach as far as the Town of Manchester.

3.11.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to tsunami events.
• There are concerns with evacuation planning, and clarity on procedures/mapping is critical. Confusion during tsunami warnings has previously affected timely school closures and student safety. This vulnerability is especially relevant for Manchester. • An event could potentially strand students and cut off food service to Manchester. • Transportation limitations for evacuating all students, particularly for Point Arena and charter schools without buses.
• Lack of internet services for several days.
• Tsunami risk is most relevant for coastal school communities. Students, staff, and visitors in these areas may need to evacuate quickly after a warning or strong earthquake. Younger students, students with disabilities, and people with limited access to alerts may need additional assistance reaching safe areas.

3.12 Wildfire

3.12.1 Past Events
Due to MCOE boundaries aligning with the county boundaries, past wildfire events noted in the Base Plan for the county match MCOE’s past events.

3.12.2 Location
While the entire Office of Education boundary is at risk of wildfire, there has been more frequent wildfire activity along Highway 101 between Willits and Ukiah, and near Caspar. Refer section 4.15 Wildfire of the Base Plan for the location of past wildfire events and for the fire hazard severity zones in the county.

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3.12.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The MCOE Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to wildfire events.
• The updated CAL FIRE hazard maps recently identified increased risk, with more schools now classified in high or extremely high fire zones.
• The unknown condition of all schools in relation to necessary hardening activities.

Schools previously identified include: MCOE River Center, MCOE Coast Center, Eagle Peak, Pomolita, Ukiah High, Laytonville Middle School, and Anderson Valley. • Air quality concerns during wildfire events. Outdated ventilation systems worsen the impacts of wildfire smoke for students and faculty. Poor air quality can impact students'/faculty's ability to exit/enter school facilities. Smoke may be especially harmful for young children, medically fragile students, people with respiratory conditions, and outdoor staff.
• Many school facilities lack backup power generation in the event of public safety power shutoffs due to wildfire.
• Fire notification system gaps, such as Whale Gulch only having internal alarms and needing automatic, monitored systems.
• Entrance and egress issues for schools, affecting evacuation and emergency access. • Vegetation and fuel reduction needs around school properties. • Specific vulnerabilities in Leggett Unified and Covelo due to fire history and access challenges.
• Wildfire can affect students, staff, and families through direct fire exposure, evacuation, school closures, and displacement. Families without reliable vehicles, low-income households, English learners, and students with disabilities may face greater challenges during response and recovery.

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Appendix A Adoption Resolution

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2 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 3 2 MITIGATION STRATEGY........................................................................................................... 5

2.1 MITIGATION GOALS ........................................................................................................ 5

2.2 2021 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 5

2.3 2026 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 6

2.4 MITIGATION CAPABILITIES............................................................................................ 11

2.5 COMPLIANCE WITH FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS...................................................... 14

2.6 PLANNING INTEGRATION.............................................................................................. 15

2.7 CONTINUING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT............................................................................ 15

2.8 CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES......................................................................... 16 3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT............................................................... 17

3.1 HAZARD RISK RANKING................................................................................................. 17

3.2 EXPOSURE ANALYSIS..................................................................................................... 17

3.3 COASTAL HAZARDS: FLOODING, SEA LEVEL RISE, EROSION......................................... 21

3.4 DAM & LEVEE FAILURE.................................................................................................. 33

3.5 DROUGHT...................................................................................................................... 35

3.6 EARTHQUAKE ................................................................................................................ 37

3.7 FLOOD (INLAND) ........................................................................................................... 38

3.8 MASS EARTH MOVEMENTS: LANDSLIDES, ROCK FALLS, & DEBRIS FLOW.................... 40

3.9 SEVERE STORMS............................................................................................................ 44

3.10 TSUNAMI....................................................................................................................... 45

3.11 WILDFIRE....................................................................................................................... 47 APPENDIX A ADOPTION RESOLUTION .......................................................................................... 54 Professional planning services for this plan update were provided by:

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1 Introduction
FIGURE 1 shows the City of Fort Bragg boundaries. The following city staff members participated in the HMP planning process and provided input to inform this Annex. A detailed list of the planning roster is provided in Appendix D of the Base Plan. • Public Works Assistant Director, Engineering Division • Economic Development Manager
• Police Captain & Emergency Manager
• Police Chief
In addition to the public engagement outlined in the Base Plan, the city involved many nonprofits and community organizations listed in Section 2 of the Base Plan through stakeholder surveys. One of the nonprofits the city engaged with is the GrassRoots Institute of Mendocino County, which sent an email to its members to promote the planning process and public survey. Hard-copy flyers for the public survey were also posted at several locations across the city.

The West Business Development Center was one stakeholder that provided input through the stakeholder survey. The organization serves entrepreneurs and small business owners across incorporated and unincorporated areas, as well as areas outside the county. The Center noted that recent disasters, including COVID-19, wildfires, and drought, significantly disrupted small business operations. Many small businesses were identified as unprepared or underprepared for disaster impacts, resulting in operational disruptions and permanent closures.

The West Business Development Center identified key hazards of concern for the populations it serves, including coastal hazards, earthquakes, drought, extreme heat, flooding, mass earth movements, severe storms, tsunamis, and wildfires. This feedback was incorporated into the Base Plan under local vulnerabilities for applicable hazards, with additional discussion of small businesses as an under-resourced population to reflect concerns related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

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Figure 1 City of Fort Bragg

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2 Mitigation Strategy
The mitigation strategy is a central component of the hazard mitigation plan (HMP) and the primary outcome of the planning process. This strategy serves as a long-term framework for reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. While this document begins by focusing on the mitigation strategy, it is important to acknowledge the various components that informed the planning process. These inputs included decisions and information from the Planning Partners, Core Planning Team (CPT), and general public, in addition to the results of the risk and vulnerability assessment. All of this information is captured in detail across the County of Mendocino Base Plan and this City of Fort Bragg Annex.

2.1 Mitigation Goals
The City of Fort Bragg has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Core Planning Team and described in Section 1.1 of the Base Plan.

2.2 2021 Mitigation Actions
The following list provides details on the progress made toward implementation of the 2021 mitigation actions for the City of Fort Bragg. Additional details about the status of implementation can be found in the Base Plan HMP Appendix B. • Complete
o (ma-SF-FB-245) Landslide Susceptibility Study
o (ma-WF-FB-14) Develop an Urban Fire Prevention Program • On-Going
o (ma-FL-FB-232) Flood Mitigation Educational Campaign for Ocean Lake Adult Mobile Home Community
• In Progress
o (ma-CC-FB-204) Study on Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Tsunami Events on Drinking Water
o (ma-DR-FB-231) Study on Water Supply Contingency
o (ma-EQ-FB-9) Seismically Retrofit Public Works and Emergency Response Facilities
o (ma-EW-FB-13) Underground Utilities
o (ma-FL-FB-10) Reinforce Transportation Infrastructure o (ma-SF-FB-237) Retrofit Well and Water Delivery Pipes • No Progress – No Longer a Mitigation Priority
o (ma-EQ-FB-12) Develop an Unreinforced Masonry Grant Program o (ma-PN-FB-233) Public Outreach Program for Pandemic
o (ma-PN-FB-235) Structural Improvements for Pandemic (Ventilation and Structural Barriers)

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o (ma-PN-FB-236) Develop Alternative Sheltering/Evacuation Locations for Pandemic

2.2.1 Mitigation Successes
The city has identified several mitigation successes since the last HMP update, including:
• Through collaboration with Noyo Harbor, a 20-ton flake ice machine was purchased to support backup food storage.
• Evaluating the use of logging and private roads as emergency egress routes. • Offering an Emergency Weather Shelter when extreme cold events occur.

2.3 2026 Mitigation Actions
The City of Fort Bragg Steering Committee identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions for the City of Fort Bragg based on the risk assessment and input from the public survey.

2.3.1 Coastal Hazards
• High Priority
o (FB1) Assess and Reinforce Vulnerable Sections of the Raw Water Line. Assess and reinforce vulnerable sections of the raw water line at risk of erosion.

Implement protective measures, such as bank stabilization or rerouting, to prevent breaks that could disrupt the city’s water supply. o (FB2) Cure-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) Relining Program. Implement a Cure-In-Place Pipe (CIPP) relining program to internally strengthen aging wastewater pipelines. This approach will improve the integrity and resilience of the sewer system, critical as approximately one-third of the city’s wastewater gravity flows into the harbor, where it is then pumped to the City Wastewater Treatment Plant, reducing the risk of leaks, ruptures, and environmental contamination. o (FB35) Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) Inflow Sewer Main Replacement.

This project, identified in the Ft. Bragg Wastewater Collection System Master Plan (CMSP), will increase 2,305 FT of 30-inch pipe diameter to 42-inch. This is the last stretch of sewer main connecting the entire collection system to the WWTP, which is both undersized and past its life expectancy. • Medium Priority
o (FB3) Coastal Hazards Mitigation Educational Campaign. Implement a focused public education program to inform vulnerable populations about evacuation procedures, timing, and routes. Use multilingual materials and accessible communication channels to ensure all community members understand how and when to evacuate safely during emergencies.

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2.3.2 Dam and Levee Incident
• High Priority
o (FB4) Remediation Action Plan for Operable Unit E (OU-E) Site. Complete an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) and obtain a Coastal Development Permit (CDP) for the California Department of Toxic Substance and Control (DTSC) Remediation Action Plan for OU-E site. The site includes 10 man-made ponds, wetland and riparian areas, including a dam. This process will ensure regulatory compliance and environmental protection.

2.3.3 Drought
• High Priority
o (FB5) Design New Water Reservoirs. Develop designs and plans for three new water reservoirs to increase storage capacity. These reservoirs will capture excess water during wet months and provide reliable supply during dry periods, enhancing water security and drought resilience.
o (FB8) Implementation of Water Master Plan. Continue Implementation of Water Infrastructure Projects - Water Master Plan Projects, including Construction of three new storage reservoirs, Recycled Water Reclamation (Purple pipe), distribution system rehabilitation, raw water line replacement, Newman Pump Station Construction, and upsizing system mains identified for fire flow deficiencies.
o (FB10) Raw Water Pipeline. Complete the reconstruction of the Raw Water Pipeline which delivers source water to the water treatment plant. Construct the Newman Pump Station which will allow water to be pumped from the Noyo River up to the new storage reservoirs.
• Medium Priority
o (FB6) Feasibility Study for Desalination Project. Conduct a feasibility study exploring the use of offshore buoys and infrastructure for a future ocean water desalination project. This study will assess environmental impacts, technical requirements, and potential benefits to diversify the city’s water supply. o (FB7) Feasibility Study for Use of Purple Pipe System. Conduct a feasibility study on the use of the purple pipe system to treat and recycle wastewater into potable water. This study will evaluate technical, environmental, and regulatory factors to advance sustainable water reuse and reduce demand on traditional water sources.
o (FB9) Study on Water Supply Contingency. Explore water supply contingency and alternative water supplies to improve water supply and delivery and wastewater treatment capacity in times of drought. (past action ma-DR-FB-231)

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2.3.4 Earthquake
• High Priority
o (FB11) Water and Sewer Distribution Line Improvements. Harden water and sewer distribution and collection system mains by reinforcing and protecting critical pipelines, reducing vulnerability to damage. Hardening of sewer mains will mainly be completed through CIPP lining, and undersized water mains require removal and replacement. The projects are identified in their respective Utility Master Planning documents.
o (FB13) Seismically Retrofit Public Works and Emergency Response Facilities.

Seismically retrofit or replace public works and/or emergency response facilities that are necessary during and/or immediately after a disaster or emergency.

Specific needs for fire department, corporation yard, and hospital. (past action ma-EQ-FB-9)
o (FB14) Veteran Hall EOC. Renovate and seismically retrofit the Veteran Halls to be used as an Official Emergency Operations Center (EOC) to improve coordination and response during emergencies and provide ongoing community support.
o (FB15) Community Resilience Center. Construct a Community Resilience Center to improve coordination and response during emergencies and provide ongoing community support.
• Medium Priority
o (FB12) Seismic Retrofit Project for City Hall East. Implement a seismic retrofit project for City Hall East to enhance structural resilience against earthquakes. o (FB16) Guest House Museum Seismic Retrofit. Rehabilitation of the existing brick foundation and chimneys on the Guest House Museum as well as upgrading the windows.

2.3.5 Extreme Cold or Freeze
Hazard effects from extreme cold or freeze do not currently present an immediate or impactful risk to the district’s assets and are, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.6 Extreme Heat
Hazard effects from extreme heat do not currently present an immediate or impactful risk to the district’s assets and are, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.7 Flood (Inland)
• High Priority
o (FB19) Flood Mitigation Educational Campaign for Ocean Lake Adult Mobile Home Community. Develop a comprehensive public outreach program to educate property owners in areas at risk, including those outside official flood zones, about various hazard risks, including flooding, and the benefits of

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voluntary flood insurance. This program will specifically target communities like Ocean Lake Mobile Home Park to raise awareness and encourage proactive measures for disaster preparedness and risk reduction. (past action ma-FL-FB232) • Medium Priority
o (FB17) Develop and Implement an Evacuation Plan for the Ocean Lake Adult Mobile Home Community. Develop a formal Evacuation Plan for the Ocean Lake Adult Mobile Home Community and conduct a targeted public education campaign to ensure residents understand evacuation routes, procedures, and emergency communication methods.
o (FB18) Flood Mitigation Educational Campaign. Develop and implement a Public Education Program on Flood Risks annually in the spring, leveraging existing public outreach events and social media platforms to share information, increase community awareness, and promote preparedness for flood-related emergencies.
o (FB20) Reinforce Transportation Infrastructure. Reinforce local ramps, bridges, and roads from flooding through protection activities, including elevating the road and installing culverts beneath the road or building a higher bridge across the area that experiences regular flooding. Coordinate with the county to reinforce county roads around the city. (past action ma-FL-FB-10)

2.3.8 Mass Earth Movements
• High Priority
o (FB21) Enhancement and Hardening of Water and Sewer Delivery Systems.

Enhancement and Hardening of Water and Sewer Delivery Systems on Steep Slopes to Ensure Reliable Service and Minimize Vulnerabilities During Hazard Events.
• Medium Priority
o (FB23) Landslide Susceptibility Study. Initiate process to understand landslide susceptibility for emergency egress, including land ownership and CalTrans funding opportunities. Locations include North Harbor Drive, north of Fort Bragg (Hwy 1), and east of Fort Bragg (Hwy 20).

2.3.9 Severe Storms
• High Priority
o (FB24) Development of an Internet and Communications Redundancy Plan.

Development of an Internet and Communications Redundancy Plan to Ensure Continuous Connectivity and Reliable Communication During Emergencies.

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o (FB25) Installation of Backup Generators at Fuel Stations. Installation of Backup Generators at Fuel Stations to Maintain Critical Fuel Supply During Power Outages.
• Medium Priority
o (FB26) Underground Utilities. Install underground utilities or clear right-of-way for utilities that provide power and communication to critical facilities and are at-risk to fail during a winter storm event. (past action ma-EW-FB-13)

2.3.10 Tsunami
• High Priority
o (FB28) Upgrade and Modernize the Tsunami Siren System. Upgrade and Modernize the Tsunami Siren System at Ocean View RV Park in Coordination with County Authorities to Enhance Early Warning Capabilities. • Medium Priority
o (FB27) Develop a Project to Mitigate Increased Salinity in Drinking Water Intakes.

Develop a Project to Mitigate Increased Salinity in Drinking Water Intakes Caused by Reduced River Levels from Drought, Combined with Sea Level Rise and Tsunami Impacts.

2.3.11 Wildfire
• High Priority
o (FB30) Fire Flow Deficiency Projects. Implementation of "Fire Flow Deficiency" projects identified in the 2025 Water Distribution System Master Plan, including the Willow Street Pump Station upgrade and the Cedar Street Water Line Replacement Projects, is necessary to ensure pressure and pipe velocities during fire flow conditions meet expected growth conditions. The Master Plan includes additional fire flow deficiency projects which should be undertaken after these two priority projects are completed.
• Medium Priority
o (FB31) Vulnerable Water Supply Infrastructure. Develop a plan to protect the most vulnerable water supply infrastructure (the treatment plant and storage tanks) which are located in east Fort Bragg near dense woodland areas.

Additionally, Fire Station #2 is located on Highway 20 and vulnerable to wildfire. • Low Priority
o (FB29) Develop and Improve Evacuation Routes and Public Education for Emergency Evacuations. Develop and enhance additional evacuation routes to improve accessibility and ensure efficient resident evacuation during emergencies. Following the development of these routes, implement a public education campaign to inform community members about evacuation options, procedures, and safe egress during hazardous events.

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2.3.12 Multi-Hazard
• High Priority
o (FB32) Backup Power at Evacuation Shelters. There is a need for backup power at evacuation shelters, specifically requiring a high school facility to be equipped.

The senior center already has backup power in place, and the middle school has a contingency plan for power through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). o (FB33) Conduct a Site Selection and Feasibility Study for a Resiliency Center.

Conduct a site selection and feasibility study for a Resiliency Center to provide a community accessible hub capable of maintaining essential services before, during, and after hazard events. The center will serve as a backup power facility to remain operational during hazard events and can provide emergency communications and charging stations during power outages, and a cooling and evacuee center for inland disaster refugees. The center will meet seismic safety and evacuation standards.
o (FB34) Study on Impacts of Sea Level Rise and Tsunami Events on Drinking Water. Develop projects to address increased salinity in drinking water intakes due to reduced river levels (drought) paired with king tides, sea level rise, or tsunami effects. (past action ma-CC-FB-204)
o (FB22) Install Backup Power at the Police Department EV Charging Station. The department has six fully electric vehicles that serve as the primary patrol vehicles in the fleet. Evaluate solutions that consider battery storage and other dedicated backup power options.

2.4 Mitigation Capabilities
Planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities are powerful tools for implementing hazard mitigation. The city currently utilizes or has implemented many of these capabilities, as shown in the lists below.

2.4.1 Planning and Regulatory Capabilities
• Building Codes (Year)
o FBMC 15.04 adopts by reference the most current CBC (2022). This ordinance was passed 05-13-2024
• Land Use Codes
o The City’s Inland and Coastal Land Use Codes (Titles 17.62 and 18.62) require Low Impact Development (LID) practices for all projects that disturb soil. These standards reduce runoff volume and peak flows, helping to mitigate coastal erosion and bluff instability exacerbated by sea level rise and severe storm events
o LID requirements, such as infiltration, on-site retention, and preservation of natural drainage patterns, serve as a primary mitigation capability for reducing

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sediment delivery to coastal receiving waters and minimizing erosion impacts along the shoreline.
o Because coastal hazards are intensified by increased runoff and sedimentation, the city’s mandatory LID standards serve as an important regulatory tool to reduce pollutant loading and protect nearshore ecosystems. • Zoning Ordinance
o Limits development in high-risk areas, guiding compatible land uses and supporting resilient growth patterns
• Subdivision Ordinance
o Has not yet been updated in several years, except to include SB9 - ADU changes to keep up with State Law
• Hazard-Specific Ordinance
o Floodplain Management (Ch.15.32.170-200); Flood-Related Erosion-Prone areas (Ch. 15.32.200)
• Site Plan Review Requirements
o Design Review Guidelines: Adoption of Objective Design Review Standards for Multi-Family Developments
• Capital Improvement Program or Plan (CIP)
o Updated each fiscal year in June with the annual budget • Erosion / Sediment Control Program
o Article 6 of Inland and Coastal Land Use Codes (17.62 and 18.62) • Stormwater Program, Plan, or Ordinance
o FORT BRAGG OPERATES AS A SMALL PHASE II MS4
• General Plan Safety Element
o Safety is Element 7 of the City's General Plans (Inland and Coastal) • Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
o 2025 County-wide CWPP in existence
• Local Emergency Operations Plan
o EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN 2024
• Floodplain Ordinance
o Floodplain Management (Ch.15.32.190-200)
• Flood Insurance Rate Map / DFIRM
o Current Effective Map: 9/19/2025
o Initial FIRM Identified: 12/7/1982
• Flood Insurance Study
o 9/1/2022
• Economic Development
o Leverage grants and public-private partnerships, strengthen long-term community resilience, incentivize investment in infrastructure upgrades

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o Develop and implement strategy to strengthen the natural and socio-economic resilience of our coastal community and economy
• Other
o ISO Class Rating 3
o Draft Climate Action Plan 2012

2.4.2 Administrative and Technical Capabilities
• Planner/Engineer (Land Development)
• Engineer/Professional (Construction)
• Floodplain Administrator
• Public Information Officer
• Emergency Manager
o City Manager is the emergency services director for the City. • Warning Systems / Services (general)
o MendoAlert. The City uses local radio stations (KOZT FM 95.3 / 95.9), the county website, as well as the city website, and social media to post information about emergency or disaster situations that affect the city.
• Emergency Operations Center
o The City uses VEOCI as its virtual Emergency Operations Center, providing shared access to critical government and non‑government partners during emergencies. • Warning Systems / Services (flood)
• Warning Systems/Services Wildfire
• Warning Systems/Services: Geological hazards
• Mutual Aid
o County-level mutual aid agreements specifically for fire response; no specific local agreements

2.4.3 Financial Capabilities
• Levy for Specific Purposes with Voter Approval
• Utilities Fees
• System Development / Impact Development Fee
• Leveraging grants and public-private partnerships
• General Obligation Bonds to Incur Debt
• Special Tax Bonds to Incur Debt
• Withheld Spending in Hazard-Prone Areas
• Capital Improvement Project Funding
o Recent examples are the Water Treatment Plant Overhaul and the installation of 4 EV Charging stations for Fleet vehicles.

2.4.4 Education and Outreach Capabilities
• Website Dedicated to Hazard Topics

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• Social Media
• Public Hazard Education / Outreach Program/Hazard awareness campaigns (ie. Firewise, Storm Ready, Severe Weather Awareness Week, school programs, public events) • Community Newsletter
• Fire Safe Councils
• Local Citizen Groups That Communicate Hazard Risks
o The Grassroots Institute holds quarterly meetings with both the county and city officials
• Other Relevant Programs or Organizations
o Mendocino County Resource Conservation District

2.4.5 Capability Enhancements
The following lists those specific capabilities that the city will work towards expanding over the next five years. The 2026 Mitigation Actions section also includes several actions that enhance these mitigation capabilities.
• Stormwater programs and plans
• Seismic safety initiatives for dams
• Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
• Economic Development Policies and Programs

2.5 Compliance with Floodplain Requirements
TABLE 1 details the city's current policy coverage. As of July 31, 2025, 2 policy claims had been made and paid, totaling $439,593 in payments, including building and content values since 1980. The city has no repetitive-loss properties and no severe-loss properties.

Table 1 City of Fort Bragg NFIP Participation and Insurance Details Date of Entry Initial FHBM
Identified
Initial FIRM
Identified Policies in Force Total Coverage
12/07/1982 5/10/1974 12/7/1982 6 $1,736,000
Source: FEMA Community Status Book and OpenFEMA
The City’s NFIP compliance is implemented through the following designations:
• The City of Fort Bragg Community Development Director has been appointed as the Floodplain Administrator to implement and enforce the provisions of Chapter 15.32 Floodplain Management Ordinance of the Municipal Code and other appropriate Sections of 44 CFR (National Flood Insurance Program regulations) pertaining to floodplain management.

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2.6 Planning Integration
Integrating the HMP into other planning mechanisms is crucial for effectively implementing the mitigation strategy. This also benefits communities by preventing conflicts among planning documents. The City of Fort Bragg incorporated the 2021 HMP into its 2024 Emergency Operation Plan update. Additionally, the City of Fort Bragg intends to integrate the 2026 HMP into hazard mitigation grant applications, as well as future public works planning documents and policies.

2.6.1 Incorporation of Existing Plans and Information
All HMP-relevant existing plans, studies, reports, data, and technical information were reviewed during the planning process. The following list provides an overview of how City of Fort Bragg resources were incorporated into the 2026 HMP. Refer to the Base Plan for a complete list of existing plans and information that was incorporated into this HMP. • These plans helped to inform the hazard profiles in the:
o City of Fort Bragg Coastal General Plan/Safety Element o City of Fort Bragg Emergency Operations Plan
o Fort Bragg Wastewater Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) o Sonoma Mendocino Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy

2.6.2 Economic Development Strategies
The City of Fort Bragg intends to establish economic development strategies to mitigate hazard impacts that reduce economic activity, create economic burdens, and cause economic harm, such as:
• Business Continuity & Resilience Programs
• Economic Diversification
• Resilient Infrastructure Investment
• Disaster Recovery Financing Mechanisms
• Climate Adaptation, Green and Blue Economy Initiatives • Tourism and Waterfront Protection Strategies

2.7 Continuing Public Engagement
The city will maintain its commitment to public engagement through regular stakeholder meetings. Currently, the city participates in approximately 12 to 15 meetings annually. These sessions are designed to involve a range of stakeholders, including grassroots organizations, the Latino Coalition, school districts, community centers, and representatives of vulnerable populations.

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2.8 Changes in Community Priorities
The Steering Committee has elected to prioritize mitigation efforts and resources for natural hazards rather than human-caused hazards, as detailed in the previous plan.

2.8.1 Development Trends
Future development in the City of Fort Bragg is not anticipated to significantly increase exposure or vulnerability to natural hazards. Development along the coastal shoreline is regulated by the California Coastal Commission, limiting increased exposure to coastal hazards and tsunamis. Future growth is not expected to expand development within floodplains, inundation areas, or areas subject to mass earth movements. Compliance with current building codes will further limit vulnerability to hazards such as earthquakes. While overall vulnerability to drought, severe storms, and wildfires is not expected to increase, additional development could result in greater exposure if growth occurs. Overall, existing regulatory frameworks and development standards are expected to effectively manage hazard risk associated with future development.

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3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

3.1 Hazard Risk Ranking
TABLE 2 shows the rankings for the City of Fort Bragg. The City of Fort Bragg Steering Committee identified the following hazards that do not currently present an immediate or impactful risk to the district’s assets and are, therefore, not a mitigation priority: extreme cold or freeze and extreme heat.

Table 2 City of Fort Bragg Hazard Risk Ranking
Hazard Risk Rank
Coastal Hazards (Flood, Sea-level rise, Erosion) High
Dam & Levee Incidents High
Drought High
Earthquake High
Extreme Cold or Freeze Not Applicable
Extreme Heat Not Applicable
Flood (Inland) Moderate
Mass Earth Movements (landslides, rock falls, debris flows) Low Severe Storms Moderate
Tsunami Moderate
Wildfire Low

3.2 Exposure Analysis
A lifeline and structure analysis was conducted to identify and assess key assets located within designated hazard risk areas across the city. The results of this analysis support the identification of vulnerabilities within essential systems, thereby informing more targeted and effective mitigation and emergency response strategies.

3.2.1 Lifelines
The lifeline analysis for the City of Fort Bragg identified 35 total structures within city boundaries, as summarized below and shown in FIGURE 2. “Footprint” hazards, those with clearly defined boundaries, were evaluated to determine the number and types of community lifelines exposed within these areas. In addition, local narratives highlight critical facility assets not captured in the quantitative analysis, providing important context for understanding

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community vulnerabilities. For additional details pertaining to Lifelines, refer to Section 4.3.1 of the Base Plan.

1. Safety and Security: 15 locations

2. Food, Hydration, Shelter: 3 locations

3. Health and Medical: 7 locations

4. Energy: 2 locations

5. Communications: 1 location

6. Transportation: 3 locations

7. Hazardous Materials: 0 locations

8. Water Systems: 2 locations

3.2.2 Parcel Inventory
An analysis was also conducted on parcels exposed to various footprint hazards affecting the City of Fort Bragg. Because this analysis was performed at the parcel level, any parcel with even a portion intersecting a hazard area is considered at risk. Consequently, structures located on these parcels may not be directly within the hazard zone. A summary of the total parcel inventory for the City of Fort Bragg is provided in TABLE 3 and illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Table 3 Total Structures in the City of Fort Bragg
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 405 $80,111,814 $135,820,286
Industrial 64 $28,752,838 $9,022,888
Institutional 38 $2,708,258 $9,364,938
Miscellaneous 63 $840,176 $1,119,964
Residential 2,242 $230,261,229 $367,765,135
Rural 14 $2,990,554 $648,880
No Data 62 $2,081,667 $2,045,207
Total 2,888 $347,746,536 $525,787,298
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Figure 2 FEMA Lifelines in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 3 Parcels in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.3 Coastal Hazards: Flooding, Sea Level Rise, Erosion

3.3.1 Past Events
The National Center of Environmental Information (NCEI) reports one coastal flood event affecting Fort Bragg from 1996 to 2024. On January 5, 2023, a parking lot one mile south of the city flooded due to storm surge at high tide.

Additionally, the Steering Committee noted that Kings Tide, the highest annual tides, typically occurring in December and January, have previously damaged city infrastructure. The 2022- 2023 Kings Tide split a roadway, and in 2024 a portion of Mill Creek Road collapsed, blocking vehicle access between Lake Cleone and Laguna Point, shown in FIGURE 4. The California King Tide Project records photos taken of these high tide events, shown in FIGURE 5.

Figure 4 Road to Laguna Point at MacKerricher State Park Collapses Source: ROAD TO LAGUNA POINT AT MACKERRICHER STATE PARK COLLAPSES – FORT BRAGG ADVOCATE-NEWS

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Figure 5 MacKerricher State Park, Fort Bragg, 12/5/2021 Source: CALIFORNIA KING TIDES PROJECT

3.3.2 Location
Coastal hazards primarily affect the city's western edge, nearest the shoreline, but saltwater intrusion can impact water sources city-wide. Sea-level rise and coastal flood zones may raise water levels in Pudding Creek (north) and the Noyo River (south), which surround the city.

These risk areas are shown in the figures below, with sea-level rise shown in FIGURE 6 and FEMA coastal high-hazard flood zones are indicated in FIGURE 7.

The County of Mendocino’s ongoing sea-level rise planning focuses on understanding how rising seas will intensify coastal flooding, erosion, and storm-driven impacts over time.

Projections indicate that rising sea levels will increase the frequency of tidal flooding, accelerate bluff and shoreline erosion, and amplify storm-surge effects, putting roads, infrastructure, and coastal communities at risk. Draft mapping (as of April 2026) from this analysis is presented in FIGURE 8 - FIGURE 13. Note: This draft data was not utilized for any analysis in the following exposure analysis.

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Figure 6 Sea-Level Rise Risk Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 7 Coastal High Hazard Zones (FEMA Zones V and VE) in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 8 Expected Tidal Inundation in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 9 Expected Tidal Inundation in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 10 Expected Erosion Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 11 Expected Erosion Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 12 Expected Coastal Flood Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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Figure 13 Expected Coastal Flood Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.3.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted the Oceanlake Adult Mobile Home Park, with approximately 60 units, is highly vulnerable to flooding. Its low-lying coastal location places residents, many of whom may have limited mobility, at increased risk during coastal hazard events and complicates evacuation and emergency response efforts.

Additionally, people with limited transportation, mobility challenges, or limited access to emergency information may face greater difficulty evacuating quickly.

3.3.3.1 Community Lifelines
The Steering Committee noted concerns with limited evacuation routes in low-lying coastal areas presenting a major risk during coastal flooding, potentially delaying evacuations and endangering lives. Although the city owns the surrounding land, the roadway falls under county jurisdiction, complicating improvements. Aging sewer infrastructure, including a low-lying lift station and old pipelines, is vulnerable to failure. Coastal erosion has already impacted public access, with portions of the Pomo Bluff Trail lost to bluff retreat.

Transportation access to and from the City of Fort Bragg is uniquely constrained. The community is served by only two primary corridors (Highway 1 and Highway 20) which function as critical lifelines for evacuation, emergency response, supply delivery, and medical access.

Both corridors are highly vulnerable to hazard-related closures. Structural impacts to the Hare Creek Bridge and Pudding Creek Bridge during severe storms, coastal surge events, or landslides on Highway 20 can fully isolate the community for extended periods.

Fort Bragg’s geographic isolation significantly increases the consequences of hazard events.

Limited evacuation routes in low-lying coastal areas restrict the ability to move residents away from tsunami, coastal flooding, and storm surge hazards. Any closure of Highway 1 or Highway 20 delays emergency response, disrupts access to fuel and food, and limits the ability to evacuate vulnerable populations. These transportation constraints affect all hazard types and represent one of the City’s most significant multi-hazard vulnerabilities.

The following is a detailed exposure analysis of lifelines located in areas at risk from sea-level rise and coastal high hazards.

3.3.3.1.1 Sea-Level Rise Risk
The community analysis identified one bridge located within an area of high sea-level-rise risk.

3.3.3.1.2 Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zone V and VE)
The lifeline analysis indicates that no critical facilities within the City of Fort Bragg are located in coastal high-hazard areas, classified as FEMA Zones V and VE.

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3.3.3.2 Parcels

3.3.3.2.1 Sea-Level Rise Risk
The parcel analysis found that most parcels located in moderate- to high-risk areas within the City of Fort Bragg are classified as residential or commercial. The results are summarized in TABLE 4 below.

Table 4 Fort Bragg Parcels Exposed to Sea Level Rise (Moderate-High Risk) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 25 $4,077,083 $4,515,067
Industrial 9 $4,353,978 $382,415
Institutional 2 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 17 $136,765 $0
Residential 26 $4,002,799 $2,324,069
Rural 2 $7,457 $0
No Data 3 $0 $0
Total 84 $12,578,082 $7,221,551
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.3.3.2.2 Coastal High Hazard Zones (Zone V and VE)
The parcel analysis for the City of Fort Bragg is summarized below in TABLE 5. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings exposed to coastal high-hazard zones.

Table 5 Fort Bragg Parcels Exposed to Coastal High Hazard Zones (Zone V and VE) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 3 $1,016,021 $833,841
Industrial 6 $3,204,760 $0
Institutional 2 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 5 $0 $0
Residential 9 $887,172 $638,938
Rural 0 $0 $0
No Data 1 $0 $0
Total 26 $5,107,953 $1,472,779
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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3.4 Dam & Levee Failure

3.4.1 Past Events
In December 2016, Northern California’s coastal areas experienced heavy rainfall due to an atmospheric river. The resulting flood led to the Pudding Creek Dam overflowing, which damaged both the dam and a main water pipe supplying Fort Bragg. Fortunately, there was no reported damage within the city itself. This event resulted in the city relocating the water main to the bridge.

3.4.2 Location
The McGuire Dam, classified as a high-hazard potential dam, is privately owned. The dam is located upstream on the Noyo River. In the event of a dam failure or incident, inundation areas could extend to and along the city boundaries, as shown in FIGURE 14 below.

The Mill Pond Dam is a low-hazard potential dam within city limits. This dam is a high priority for the city as it is currently out of compliance with the Division of Safety of Dams and vulnerable to increasing storm and wave activity. Even though Mendocino Railway owns the dam, multiple agencies (California Department of Toxic Substances Control, California Division of Safety of Dams, California Coastal Commission, and the City of Fort Bragg) are heavily involved in oversight, cleanup, and future plans for the site.

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Figure 14 Dam Inundation Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.4.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
Older adults, people with disabilities, low-income households, and residents without reliable transportation may face greater difficulty receiving warnings or responding in time.

3.4.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis found no exposed assets within the City of Fort Bragg, indicating minimal vulnerability of critical facilities to assessed hazards. However, the Steering Committee noted that Mill Pond is currently out of regulatory compliance and poses a risk of contaminating downstream water sources and communities in the event of flooding or infrastructure failure.

3.4.3.2 Parcels
A total of 38 parcels that lie partially within the City of Fort Bragg boundary are located within dam inundation areas. Although the dam inundation zones do not fully extend into the city limits, they are directly adjacent, leaving some parcels partially exposed. Because these parcels span both inside and outside the city boundary, only portions of them are likely to experience impacts from a potential dam incident. Overall, residential parcels represent the largest share of those exposed, as shown in TABLE 6 below.

Table 6 Fort Bragg Parcels Exposed to Dam Inundation Areas Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 12 $1,647,439 $1,913,082
Industrial 3 $1,111,090 $289,855
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 4 $22,486 $0
Residential 14 $2,604,460 $1,685,131
Rural 2 $7,457 $0
No Data 3 $0 $0
Total 38 $5,392,932 $3,888,068
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.5 Drought

3.5.1 Past Events
According to records from the U.S. Drought Monitor, during the 1,305-week period from January 1, 2000, through January 1, 2025, the City of Fort Bragg spent 586 weeks (45% of the time period) in some level of drought, defined as Abnormally Dry (D0) or worse conditions. This period includes 321 weeks of Severe Drought (D2), 122 weeks of Extreme Drought (D3), and 31

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weeks of Exceptional Drought (D4). FIGURE 15 illustrates these periods of extreme and exceptional drought, including the duration of these occurrences and the range of affected county percentages.

Figure 15 Periods of Drought in the City of Fort Bragg, January 2000 – January 2025

3.5.2 Location
The entire City of Fort Bragg is vulnerable to the impacts of drought.

3.5.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Fort Bragg Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to drought events.
• Drought along with sea level rise or coastal flooding could cause the river intake to be infiltrated by saltwater.
• City sees increased tourist populations and increased water use in summers, which poses additional challenges in drought years.
• Limited water storage means drought has a significant effect on the city’s water supply.

Additional storage or alternative water supplies, including desalinization, are needed. • The City of Fort Bragg relies primarily on surface water, making its water supply highly vulnerable to seasonal variability and prolonged drought. • Aging infrastructure adds to the risk, threatening the reliability and resilience of the city's water system, the city’s top critical infrastructure concern. • Saltwater infiltration reduces the city’s ability to pull fresh groundwater for treatment. • Fort Bragg’s summer tourist population can increase water demand during drought years.
• Low-income households, renters, older adults, medically fragile residents, and residents with limited English proficiency may have fewer resources to adapt.

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3.6 Earthquake

3.6.1 Past Events
The only earthquake recorded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with an epicenter located within the City of Fort Bragg occurred on June 25, 2011, and had a magnitude of 2.8. This event did not result in any reported damage.

Earthquakes occurring outside of the City’s boundaries can also cause damage to local infrastructure. In 2024, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake prompted the Governor to declare a state of emergency and triggered a tsunami warning for much of coastal Northern California and Oregon, which was later canceled. In response, the City of Fort Bragg quickly evacuated residents of the Ocean Lake Adult Mobile Home Park, located just north of the Pudding Creek Bridge, after the National Weather Service issued the warning. Reports from across the North Coast indicated impacts such as broken glass and possible structural damage to residences.1

3.6.2 Location
Fort Bragg has no active faults, but the San Andreas fault lies 9 miles west, and the Maacama fault is 22 miles east. Refer to Section 4.8 of the Base Plan for county fault lines that could affect earthquake risk in the city.

3.6.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Fort Bragg Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to earthquake events.
• A significant number of residential homes and commercial buildings in Fort Bragg are older construction, pre-1974, and may require additional retrofitting. • The Steering Committee noted that the city’s aging water distribution lines are extremely vulnerable during an earthquake event.
• The transportation and emergency services network could experience major disruptions due to landslides.
• If Pudding Creek, Noyo River, and/or Hare Creek Bridges become unusable following a seismic event, people may not be able to evacuate, and emergency access would be blocked. This could also isolate the city from supply chains and delay the delivery of critical resources, such as fuel for emergency services, generators, and other essential operations.
• The Mill Pond Dam is not expected to withstand a major seismic event. • Key facilities, including the Fire Department, Hospital, Corporation Yard, and numerous residential structures, lack adequate seismic protection, further elevating risk. • People living or working in older buildings may face greater risk. 1 EARTHQUAKE BOUNCES HOUSES AND CAUSES DAMAGE IN FORT BRAGG AND ELSEWHERE • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO

COUNTY, CA

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• Older adults, people with disabilities, renters, and lower-income households may also face greater challenges evacuating, sheltering, and recovering.

3.7 Flood (Inland)
Inland flooding relates to non-coastal riverine flood events.

3.7.1 Past Events
Many flood events in the Fort Bragg area go unreported because they result in limited or no documented property damage, do not trigger formal river flood stages, or affect small, ungauged waterways. However, atmospheric river storms and strong winter storm systems can still produce localized flooding, particularly in small creeks, low-lying neighborhoods, coastal drainage areas, and near vulnerable waterways such as the Noyo River and smaller tributaries.

According to the NCEI database, Fort Bragg experienced one notable inland flooding event on December 15, 2016. Heavy rain from an atmospheric river caused floods and landslides in Northwest California. Three counties, including the County of Mendocino, declared emergencies, with damages reaching several million dollars. In Fort Bragg, the Pudding Creek Dam overflowed, damaging the dam and a main water line.

Additionally, a flood advisory on December 21, 2025, an atmospheric river–driven winter storm brought heavy rainfall to the Fort Bragg area, prompting NWS Flood Watches and Advisories.

The storm caused elevated creek and stream levels, localized ponding in low-lying areas, and minor roadway flooding.

3.7.2 Location
In Fort Bragg, potential flooding is primarily associated with the Noyo River and Pudding Creek, where heavy rainfall can lead to elevated water levels, overflow into adjacent low-lying areas, and localized impacts to nearby roads, trails, and developed areas. There are no mapped 500- year flood zones within the city; however, 100-year flood zones are present, as shown in FIGURE 16 below. In addition, Mendocino County has identified flood awareness zones that indicate areas where flooding is possible but may not be fully mapped or studied by FEMA, particularly along smaller creeks and drainage corridors.

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Figure 16 FEMA 100-Year Floodplain in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.7.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted the Ocean lake Adult Mobile Home Park, with approximately 60 units, is highly vulnerable to flooding. Its low-lying coastal location places residents, many of whom may have limited mobility, at increased risk during coastal hazard events and complicates evacuation and emergency response efforts.

In general, residents with limited mobility, income, transportation, or English proficiency may need additional support to receive warnings and evacuate.

3.7.3.1 Community Lifelines
The lifeline analysis for the City of Fort Bragg identified one bridge within the 100-year floodplain, with no lifelines located in the 500-year floodplain or in floodplain awareness zones, indicating limited exposure of critical infrastructure to flood hazards.

3.7.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the City of Fort Bragg found 76 parcels located in the FEMA 100-Year Floodplain, the majority of which are commercial parcels, summarized in TABLE 7 below. The analysis found that no parcels are located within the 500-year floodplain or floodplain awareness zones.

Table 7 Fort Bragg Parcels in the 100-Year Floodplain
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 27 $3,866,822 $4,828,808
Industrial 4 $1,149,218 $382,415
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 17 $136,765 $0
Residential 21 $3,614,785 $1,685,131
Rural 4 $36,691 $56,152
No Data 3 $0 $0
100-Year
Floodplain Total 76 $8,804,281 $6,952,506
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.8 Mass Earth Movements: Landslides, Rock Falls, & Debris Flow

3.8.1 Past Events
Mendocino County, including Fort Bragg, has experienced multiple landslides, details of which are in the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment section of the Base Plan.

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Recently, at Todd’s Point in Fort Bragg, part of a bluff collapsed during rainstorms and high surf in January of 2024. While the nearby hiking trail was not affected, the incident moved the cliff’s edge closer to the path, prompting public works to block off the area. This highlights the instability of such ground and the need for caution. FIGURE 17 below illustrates the event.

Figure 17 Todd’s Point Bluff Collapse
Source: FORT BRAGG BLUFF SECTION COLLAPSES NEAR POPULAR HIKING TRAIL - BLISSS MAGAZINE

3.8.2 Location
In Fort Bragg, landslide risk is concentrated along the city’s coastal bluffs and steep shoreline areas, where erosion, heavy rainfall, and wave action can trigger slope failures. Notably, the Pomo Bluffs near Todd’s Point have experienced bluff collapses following winter storms, demonstrating ongoing instability along the bluff edge that can impact trails and nearby areas.

Additional landslide susceptibility exists on steep inland slopes around the city’s perimeter, particularly during periods of intense rainfall or seismic activity. FIGURE 18 below shows these mapped risk areas.

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Figure 18 Landslide Risk Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.8.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted a major landslide on Highway 20 could cut off the primary route connecting the coast to inland Mendocino County, isolating communities like Fort Bragg. This would disrupt emergency response, supply deliveries, and evacuation efforts. While a secondary hazard to earthquakes, its impact on regional connectivity is critical. People with limited mobility, limited transportation, or limited access to emergency information may be more affected.

3.8.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis found that there is one bridge located within very high landslide risk areas. There are no lifelines in high-risk areas. This indicates limited overall exposure of critical infrastructure to landslide hazards. No debris flow or rockfall hazard areas have been mapped within the city boundaries.

Transportation access to and from the City of Fort Bragg is uniquely constrained. The community is served by only two primary corridors (Highway 1 and Highway 20) which function as critical lifelines for evacuation, emergency response, supply delivery, and medical access.

Both corridors are highly vulnerable to hazard-related closures.

3.8.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the City of Fort Bragg is summarized below in TABLE 8. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings exposed to high to very high landslide risk areas.

Table 8 Fort Bragg Parcels Exposed to Landslide (High-Very High Risk Areas) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 75 $19,890,704 $38,544,420
Industrial 21 $11,876,105 $1,172,548
Institutional 4 $278,014 $357,237
Miscellaneous 36 $631,971 $965,682
Residential 249 $29,933,543 $43,758,240
Rural 12 $2,916,664 $604,031
No Data 16 $685,962 $827,061
Total 413 $66,212,963 $86,229,219
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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3.9 Severe Storms

3.9.1 Past Events
The following records are noted in the NCEI Storm Events database as severe storm events directly impacting the City of Fort Bragg or in the vicinity of Fort Bragg. None of the events recorded casualties.
• December 5, 1998 - A tornado made landfall near the mouth of the Noyo River, causing damage to a mobile home and uprooting trees. The tornado crossed Highway 1, damaging the roofs of both a motel and a courthouse, and uprooted additional trees near a hospital emergency room.
• November 11, 2002 - High winds along the coast led to the downing of numerous trees, branches, and power lines. In Fort Bragg, two trees fell on a residence, resulting in minor property damage.
• January 8, 2017 - Severe winds caused trees to fall on a county-owned building and fences in Fort Bragg, resulting in damage; however, the exact time remains unconfirmed. The estimated property damage from the event totaled $17,000. • February 18, 2024 - A storm system delivered rainfall and wind to Northwest California, occurring several weeks after a significant wind event on February 4th. This convective system produced intermittent wind gusts exceeding 58 mph on regional ridgetops, with reports of downed trees across Highway 1 along the Mendocino coast south of Fort Bragg.
• March 1, 2024 - The passage of a deep trough resulted in widespread hail showers and substantial snowfall, measuring several feet in the mountains. Coastal hail showers contributed to multiple traffic accidents. Law enforcement documented nonthunderstorm wind damage approximately one mile north-northeast of Fort Bragg, CA. • March 2, 2024 - Another deep trough brought extensive hail showers and snow to Northwest California, with heavy mountain snow accumulations and coastal traffic incidents. A tree blocked Highway 1 north of the Ten Mile River. Law enforcement reported additional non-thunderstorm wind damage nine miles north-northeast of Fort Bragg, CA, as well as a tree down across two lanes two miles north of Fort Bragg, CA. • December 13, 2024 - The arrival of a strong upper-level low-pressure system, accompanied by an enhanced upper-level jet, intensified area showers. Resulting washouts and landslides caused significant disruption and destruction. A tree was reported down in the roadway nine miles south of Fort Bragg, CA.

3.9.2 Location
All of the City of Fort Bragg is at risk of severe storm events.

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3.9.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Fort Bragg Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to severe storm events.
• The city experiences power loss from extreme weather approximately three times a year for a day or two. The power system is the city’s top critical infrastructure vulnerability.
• Loss of power for medical baseline customers may cause additional health effects. • Older adults, mobile home residents, people with disabilities, and households without backup power or reliable transportation may need targeted preparedness and poststorm support.

3.10 Tsunami

3.10.1 Past Events
Fort Bragg has received several tsunami warnings in recent years, although none have resulted in damage. The most significant occurred in 2011, when an earthquake in Japan prompted surges along the California coast and caused damage to Noyo Harbor. Further information about these events can be found in the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment section of the Base Plan.

3.10.2 Location
In Fort Bragg, the areas most vulnerable to tsunamis are the low-lying coastal zones, beaches, and harbor areas, particularly around Noyo Harbor and the shoreline adjacent to the city. These locations are at risk of inundation from incoming waves, strong currents, and harbor surges.

Elevated infrastructure and inland areas are generally less exposed, but tsunami hazard maps identify these waterfront and low-lying zones as the primary areas requiring evacuation and preparedness during tsunami events. These tsunami risk areas are shown in FIGURE 19.

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Figure 19 Tsunami Risk Areas in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.10.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted that the tsunami warning system serving the area above Ocean View RV Park is currently non-operational, posing a significant life safety risk to the nearby vulnerable population. Their close coastal location and limited evacuation time make reliable warnings critical.

Additionally, residents with limited mobility, limited transportation, language barriers, or limited access to alerts may face greater difficulty reaching safe areas in time.

3.10.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis found no lifelines within tsunami risk areas.

3.10.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis identified 122 parcels within tsunami risk areas in the City of Fort Bragg, with residential parcels representing the largest share of those exposed. The results are summarized in TABLE 9 below.

Table 9 Fort Bragg Parcels in Tsunami Risk Areas
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 37 $8,995,651 $11,367,638
Industrial 10 $4,353,978 $382,415
Institutional 2 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 21 $191,030 $0
Residential 45 $8,396,709 $9,615,100
Rural 4 $2,008,388 $302,254
No Data 3 $0 $0
Total 122 $23,945,756 $21,667,407
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.11 Wildfire

3.11.1 Past Events
Fort Bragg has primarily experienced small vegetation and brush fires within or near the city in recent years, rather than large, destructive wildfires. Larger historical fires in Mendocino County (like the 2018 Mendocino Complex and 2020 August Complex) have shaped the regional wildfire risk environment, even if their fronts didn’t reach the city itself. Details on these events can be found in the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment portion of the Base Plan.

The fires that have impacted near the City of Fort Bragg since the previous HMP update include:

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• May 2021: The Noyo Bluffs Vegetation Fire - A small brush fire originating in a homeless encampment spread into vegetation along the Noyo Bluffs near Noyo Point Road, burning a portion of the bluff before being contained by local fire crews.2 • August 2021: Grass/Vegetation Fire - Firefighters responded to a small vegetation fire south of Fort Bragg near Georges and Rhoda Lanes, where downed power lines were involved in the blaze and around 11 PG&E customers lost electricity; the fire had a slow rate of spread and aircraft response was initially planned but later canceled.3 • September 2025: Company Fire - CAL FIRE responded to a small wildfire about eight miles east of Fort Bragg near Sherwood Road, destroying one structure before full response operations were canceled.4
Additionally, the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) maintains geospatial data regarding wildfire events throughout the county, as illustrated in FIGURE 20 below. The event that occurred within city boundaries was designated as the Johnson Fire, which was documented to have burned only 0.1 acres.
2 FT. BRAGG MAN ARRESTED ON ARSON AFTER OCEANFRONT FIRE SPREADS TOWARD RESERVATION • THE MENDOCINO VOICE |

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA
3 POWER LINES DOWN AND INVOLVED IN SMALL VEGETATION FIRE WITH SLOW RATE OF SPREAD NEAR FORT BRAGG — 11 PG&E CUSTOMERS LOSE SERVICE • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA 4 [UPDATE: ALL UNITS CANCELLED] CAL FIRE RESPONDS TO COMPANY FIRE EAST OF FORT BRAGG; ONE STRUCTURE DESTROYED -

REDHEADED BLACKBELT

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Figure 20 Historical Wildfires in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.11.2 Location
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) classify areas as having moderate, high, or very high wildfire hazard based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind conditions that influence fire behavior and spread (CAL FIRE). State Responsibility Areas (SRA) are generally rural or undeveloped lands where CAL FIRE provides wildland fire protection, while Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are more developed areas where fire protection is provided by local fire agencies. For the purposes of this analysis, SRA and LRA were mapped together to provide full coverage of the planning area. Risk analysis focused on assets located within high to very high FHSZ, which represents the greatest wildfire hazard. FIGURE 21 shows the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Fort Bragg.

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Figure 21 Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Fort Bragg

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3.11.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted that Fort Bragg has limited evacuation routes, posing risks during fast-moving wildfires. Road congestion or blockages could delay evacuations and emergency response, increasing threats to life safety. While the city’s interior faces limited wildfire risk, expanding wildland-urban interface (WUI) areas east of the city elevate evacuation concerns, primarily as a secondary hazard.

Although not directly impacted by some of the larger wildfires in the county (Mendocino Complex and August Complex), the city experienced a significant increase in the need for evacuee refugees. Hotels, campgrounds, and even family residences were overwhelmed by the need to house and feed inland evacuees seeking safe haven. These events had a significant impact on water supply and food supply, given the city’s remote location and limited resources.

Smoke may be especially harmful for older adults, children, people with respiratory conditions, and medically fragile residents. Residents without reliable vehicles, renters, lower-income households, and people with disabilities may face greater challenges during evacuation and recovery.

3.11.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis identified one Safety and Security facility in high Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Fort Bragg. Additionally, the Steering Committee noted that development on the east side of the City of Fort Bragg is expanding toward the Wildland–Urban Interface (WUI), creating heightened concern for wildfire exposure. Overall, wildfire risk within city boundaries is generally moderate, with some areas experiencing minimal to no risk. The city may serve as an evacuation center for inland wildfire events; however, this role raises concerns about the potential compounding effects of concurrent hazards such as drought or public health emergencies.

3.11.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the City of Fort Bragg is summarized below in TABLE 10. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings exposed to high wildfire risk areas.

Table 10 Fort Bragg Parcels Exposed to Wildfire Risk Areas (High Risk) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 39 $11,127,076 $25,183,176
Industrial 10 $4,434,594 $5,354,187
Institutional 5 $675,613 $820,255
Miscellaneous 19 $491,726 $965,682
Residential 185 $26,897,989 $37,712,441
Rural 2 $1,994,846 $302,254

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Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
No Data 10 $300,163 $145,825
Total 270 $45,922,007 $70,483,820
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Appendix A Adoption Resolution

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2 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS.....................................................................................................................................2 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................................3 2 MITIGATION STRATEGY........................................................................................................................5

2.1 MITIGATION GOALS.....................................................................................................................5

2.2 2021 MITIGATION ACTIONS ........................................................................................................5

2.3 2026 MITIGATION ACTIONS ........................................................................................................6

2.4 MITIGATION CAPABILITIES ..........................................................................................................9

2.5 COMPLIANCE WITH FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................11

2.6 PLANNING INTEGRATION ..........................................................................................................12

2.7 INCORPORATION OF EXISTING PLANS AND INFORMATION .....................................................12

2.8 CONTINUING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ........................................................................................13

2.9 CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES......................................................................................13 3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT ............................................................................14

3.1 HAZARD RISK RANKING .............................................................................................................14

3.2 EXPOSURE ANALYSIS .................................................................................................................14

3.3 COASTAL HAZARDS: FLOODING, SEA LEVEL RISE, EROSION......................................................18

3.4 DROUGHT ..................................................................................................................................26

3.5 EARTHQUAKE.............................................................................................................................27

3.6 FLOOD (INLAND)........................................................................................................................28

3.7 MASS EARTH MOVEMENTS: LANDSLIDES, ROCK FALLS, & DEBRIS FLOW.................................31

3.8 SEVERE STORMS ........................................................................................................................33

3.9 TSUNAMI ...................................................................................................................................34

3.10 WILDFIRE ...................................................................................................................................37 APPENDIX A ADOPTION RESOLUTION ........................................................................................................41 Professional planning services for this plan update were provided by:

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1 Introduction
FIGURE 1 shows the City of Point Arena boundaries. The following city staff members participated in the HMP planning process and provided input to inform this Annex. A detailed list of the planning roster is provided in Appendix D of the Base Plan. • City Manager
• Assistant City Manager
The Fire Chief from Redwood Coast Fire Protection District and city staff members collaborated during coordination meetings for the city and the district In addition to the public engagement described in the Base Plan, the City of Point Arena supported outreach efforts via social media, interaction with city staff, and posting the survey link on the city website and on printed flyers at the Point Arena Pier, Arena Market, post office, library, downtown information kiosk, and a bulletin board at the Pier. The city also invited the Point Arena Fire Safe Council Coordinator to all Core Planning Team Meetings. Additionally, the city involved many nonprofits and community organizations listed in Section 2 of the Base Plan through stakeholder surveys.

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Figure 1 City of Point Arena Boundaries

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2 Mitigation Strategy
The mitigation strategy is a central component of the hazard mitigation plan (HMP) and the primary outcome of the planning process. This strategy serves as a long-term framework for reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. While this document begins by focusing on the mitigation strategy, it is important to acknowledge the various components that informed the planning process. These inputs included decisions and information from the Planning Partners, Core Planning Team (CPT), and general public, in addition to the results of the risk and vulnerability assessment. All of this information is captured in detail across the County of Mendocino Base Plan and this City of Point Arena Annex.

2.1 Mitigation Goals
The City of Point Arena has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Core Planning Team and described in Section 1.1 of the Base Plan.

2.2 2021 Mitigation Actions
The following list provides details on the progress made toward implementation of the 2021 mitigation actions for the City of Point Arena. Additional details about the status of implementation can be found in the Base Plan HMP Appendix B. • Complete
o (ma-EW-PA-213) Implement Mill Street flooding projects. • On-Going
o (ma-AH-PA-214) Conduct re-channelization and habitat restoration for Arena Creek along Port Road.
o (ma-EQ-PA-41) Seismic Retrofit of City Hall.
o (ma-FL-PA-39) Retrofit Wastewater and Potable Water Facilities. o (ma-PN-PA-220) Structural Improvements to Evacuation Centers and Shelter Locations.
o (ma-WF-PA-43) Fire Road Access/Roadside Vegetation Removal Program. • In Progress
o (ma-AH-PA-211) Wastewater Treatment Plan.
o (ma-AH-PA-286) Backup Generator at City Hall.
• No Progress – Continue Action
o (ma-EQ-PA-212) Seismic Retrofitting of Large Water Tank Upstream of Town. • No Progress – No Longer a Mitigation Priority
o (ma-PN-PA-217) Install additional barriers and proper ventilation in the Emergency Operations Center.

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o (ma-PN-PA-218) Develop alternative sheltering/evacuation locations for social distancing requirements.
o (ma-PN-PA-219) Assess and institute necessary upgrades to critical facilities.

2.2.1 Mitigation Successes
Mitigation successes in the City of Point Arena include the completion of the Mill Street rain and flooding projects identified in the 2022 design study, specifically the road improvement project. The City also completed a project at Arena Cove that elevated a portion of the parking lot to improve drainage during storm events.

The Fire Safe Council has been highly effective in engaging local communities. A final success relates to backup generators that have been installed at several critical infrastructure sites to enhance resilience.

2.3 2026 Mitigation Actions
The City of Point Arena identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the risk assessment and input from the public survey. Refer to the HMP Base Plan Appendix C for complete details of each of the mitigation actions listed below.

2.3.1 Coastal Hazards
• High Priority
o (PA1) Develop a Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan. Develop a sea level rise adaptation plan to minimize losses during extreme weather events. • Medium Priority
o (PA2) Managed Retreat of Cove Parking Lot. Complete managed retreat of the cove parking lot by relocating infrastructure away from vulnerable areas, incorporating resilient design and natural buffers to reduce flood and erosion risks, building on 2017 improvements.

2.3.2 Dam and Levee Failure
There are no dams or levees within the City of Point Arena, and no dam-inundation areas from dams outside the city pose a risk to Point Arena.

2.3.3 Drought
• Medium Priority
o (PA5) Improve Water Piping Infrastructure. Collaborate with Point Arena Water Works to upgrade and improve water piping infrastructure for enhanced reliability and efficiency for the City of Point Arena. • Low Priority
o (PA3) Develop a Model Water Ordinance. Develop and implement a model water ordinance to promote sustainable water use and enhance drought resilience.

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o (PA4) Feasibility Study for Secondary Water Source. Conduct a feasibility study to identify and develop a secondary water source for the city to ensure supply reliability.

2.3.4 Earthquake
• High Priority
o (PA6) Seismic Retrofit of City Hall. Ongoing seismic retrofit or replacement of critical public works and emergency response facilities—especially the City Hall/Law Enforcement/EOC—to ensure functionality during and after disasters (past action ma-EQ-PA-41).
o (PA7) Seismic Retrofitting of Large Water Tank Upstream of Town. The City will coordinate with Point Arena Water Works to assess the need for seismic retrofitting of the large water tank located upstream of town, and will carry out retrofitting as needed to ensure its resilience. Point Arena Water Works controls the water tank located upstream of the town. Coordination with both Point Arena Water Works and the county would be necessary. (past action ma-EQ-PA212). • Medium Priority
o (PA8) Study on Wastewater Treatment Plant. Conduct a study on the wastewater treatment plant to assess and mitigate risks of discharge into the Point Arena Creek during hazard events.

2.3.5 Extreme Cold or Freeze
Hazard effects from extreme cold or freeze events do not currently present an immediate or impactful risk to the City of Point Arena and are, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.6 Extreme Heat
Hazard effects from extreme heat do not currently present an immediate or impactful risk to the City of Point Arena and are, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.7 Flood (Inland)
• High Priority
o (PA9) Retrofit Wastewater and Potable Water Facilities Subject to Flooding.

Retrofit wastewater and potable water facilities that are subject to flooding. A related study is currently underway to retrofit the wastewater treatment plant and various sewer lines throughout the city. Retrofitting activities may include elevating vulnerable equipment, electrical controls, and other equipment, fastening and sealing manhole covers to prevent floodwater infiltration, and protecting wells and other potable water from infiltration and flood damage by raising controls and well pipes (past action ma-FL-PA-39). • Medium Priority
o (PA10) Study on Riparian Creek Areas. Conduct a study on riparian creek areas to assess and improve hydrological health, aiming to reduce flood-related losses.

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2.3.8 Mass Earth Movements
• Medium Priority
o (PA11) Install Warning Signage on Cliffsides. Install warning signage on cliffsides to enhance public safety and prevent accidents.

2.3.9 Severe Storms
• High Priority
o (PA13) Structural Improvements to Evacuation Centers and Shelter Locations.

Implement necessary structural improvements to evacuation centers and shelter locations to harden facilities against hazard events, including upgrades to roofing, windows, and foundations to enhance durability and ensure continued operation during emergencies. (past action ma-PN-PA-220) • Medium Priority
o (PA12) Implement Microgrid Infrastructure and Electrical Redundancy for Critical Facilities. Design and install microgrid infrastructure and electrical redundancy systems at critical facilities in the City of Point Arena to ensure operations continue during storm-related power outages. This action will strengthen local energy resilience by enabling islanding and providing dependable backup power, reducing service disruptions during severe storm events.

2.3.10 Tsunami
• Low Priority
o (PA14) Tsunami Signage. Install clear and visible signage to inform residents and tourists about tsunami risks and safety procedures, enhancing awareness and preparedness during tsunami events.

2.3.11 Wildfire
• Medium Priority
o (PA15) Fire Road Access/Roadside Vegetation Removal Program. Develop a fire road access/roadside vegetation removal program or fuel break program in which live native vegetation should be thinned and/or moved and dead vegetation should be removed within a 50-foot distance of each side of a road.

Roads to be included in this program include those located in high or very high areas of this MHMP or defined by Mendocino County Fire Safe Council (past action ma-WF-PA-43).
o (PA16) Implement Fuel Reduction Projects. Partner with the Redwood Coast Fire Protection District to implement fuel reduction projects that minimize wildfire risk and enhance community safety.
o (PA17) Wildfire Mitigation Educational Campaign. Partner with the Fire Safe Council to deliver public education and outreach programs annually aimed at increasing community awareness and preparedness for wildfire risks.

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2.3.12 Multi-Hazard
• High Priority
o (PA18) Backup Generator at City Hall. Construct permanent backup generators at critical facilities (City Hall) and sheltering locations to respond to hazard events in the loss of power. City Hall currently does have a mobile generator available for use. (past action ma-AH-PA-286)
o (PA19) Rechannelization and Habitat Restoration for Arena Creek Along Port Road. Conduct rechannelization and habitat restoration for Arena Creek along Port Road, where the stream channel has been clogged due to the discontinuation of historic meadows along the creek causing flooding and blocking egress from Arena Cove. (past action ma-AH-PA-214) o (PA21) Wastewater Treatment Plan. Assess and retrofit as needed wastewater treatment plan, including for berming that separates wastewater treatment facility from Arena Creek and could be subject to breach in earthquake or with extreme weather events and for other necessary seismic retrofits. (past action ma-AH-PA-211)
• Medium Priority
o (PA20) Tourist All Hazard Mitigation Educational Campaign. Partner with the Fire Safe Council and the Point Arena Merchants Association to implement a coordinated tourist education program. This effort will include sharing emergency preparedness information on partner websites and distributing hardcopy flyers through local businesses and at monthly Fire Safe Council events (first Wednesday of the month) to promote visitor enrollment in local emergency alert and warning systems.

2.4 Mitigation Capabilities
Planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities are powerful tools for implementing hazard mitigation. The city currently utilizes or has implemented many of these capabilities, as shown in the lists below.

2.4.1 Planning and Regulatory Capabilities
• Building Codes
o 2019 California Building Code
• Zoning Ordinance
• Subdivision Ordinance
o Under Municipal Code
• Hazard-Specific Ordinances
o Floodplain Management (Ch. 16.10.170–200, 220)
o Health and Safety (Ch. 8.20)
o Fire Regulations (8.20.010)

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o Seismic ordinances in place
• Site Plan Review Requirements
o County and City collaboration
• Capital Improvement Program or Plan (CIP)
• Stormwater Program, Plan, or Ordinance
o In City Code
• General Plan Safety Element
o Adopted 1995; updated 2006
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
o 2025 County-wide CWPP
• Local Emergency Operations Plan
o Mendocino County Operational Area Emergency Operations Plan (2025) • Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)
o In City Code
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participant
o Entry Date: 8/3/1984
• Floodplain Ordinance
o Floodplain Management (Ch. 16.10); updated 2017
• Floodplain Management Plan
• Flood Insurance Study
o 9/1/2022
• Flood Insurance Rate Map / DFIRM
o Effective Map: 9/19/2025
o Initial FIRM: 8/3/1984
• Other
o ISO Class 8

2.4.2 Administrative and Technical Capabilities
• Planner/Engineer (Land Development)
• Engineer/Professional (Construction)
• Floodplain Administrator
o City Manager
• Public Information Officer
o City Manager / Assistant City Manager
• Warning Systems / Services (general)
o MendoAlert for all general emergencies
• Warning Systems / Services (flood)
o Seldom used or limited presence
• Warning Systems / Services (wildfire)
o Seldom used or limited presence

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• Warning Systems / Services (geological hazards)
o Seldom used or limited presence
• Mutual Aid
• Other
o Fire Marshal through Redwood Coast Fire Protection District

2.4.3 Financial Capabilities
• Levy for Specific Purposes with Voter Approval
• Utilities Fees
o Seldom used or limited presence
• System Development / Impact Development Fee
o Seldom used or limited presence
• General Obligation Bonds to Incur Debt
• Special Tax Bonds to Incur Debt
• Withheld Spending in Hazard-Prone Areas
• Stormwater Service Fees
• Capital Improvement Project Funding

2.4.4 Education and Outreach Capabilities
• Website Dedicated to Hazard Topics
o On City Website
• Social Media
o Facebook, Twitter, and email list for emergencies or important updates • Public Hazard Education / Outreach Programs
o Annual notice issued regarding defensible space requirements • Fire Safe Councils
o Mendocino County Fire Safe Council assists local communities, including Caspar Community and Island Cove Estates
• Local Citizen Groups Communicating Hazard Risks
o Fire Safe Council
• Other Relevant Programs or Organizations
o Mendocino County Resource Conservation District programs

2.4.5 Capability Enhancements
The city plans to expand specific capabilities over the next five years, as outlined in the 2026 Mitigation Actions section, which also identifies several actions that will further strengthen these efforts. A key priority is improving staff capacity, which is currently limited by funding constraints.

2.5 Compliance with Floodplain Requirements
The following list provides details of the city's NFIP participation and current policy coverage.

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• Date of Entry: 8/3/1984
• Initial FHBM Identified: 10/18/1974
• Initial FIRM Identified: 8/3/1984
• Policies in Force: 1
• Total Coverage: $500,000
As of July 31, 2025, 1 policy claim has been made, and that was in 1993. The NFIP claims data from OpenFEMA does not show payment information for this claim. The city has no repetitive loss property and no severe loss properties.

The city’s NFIP compliance is implemented through the appointment of the City of Point Arena City Manager as the Floodplain Administrator. This individual is responsible for implementing and enforcing the provisions of Chapter 16.10 Floodplain Management Ordinance of the City’s Code of Ordinances and other appropriate Sections of 44 CFR (National Flood Insurance Program regulations) pertaining to floodplain management. The most recent floodplain ordinance was adopted in 2022.

Details on compliance with floodplain requirements and substantial damage/substantial improvement rules are provided in the Base Plan, section 1.5, Compliance with Floodplain Requirements.

2.6 Planning Integration
Integrating the HMP into other planning mechanisms is crucial for effectively implementing the mitigation strategy. This also benefits communities by preventing conflicts among planning documents. The bullet list below shows how the city successfully integrated the 2021 HMP into other planning efforts.
• The city has incorporated the 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan into its sea level rise analysis and related studies for Arena Cove.
• Information from the 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan was incorporated into the 2025 County Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP).

The City of Point Arena plans to integrate the 2026 HMP by incorporating its information into the Health and Safety Element of the city's General Plan. Additionally, the updated HMP will serve as general guidance for city staff in decision-making and planning efforts, including future mitigation grant applications.

2.7 Incorporation of Existing Plans and Information
All HMP-relevant existing plans, studies, reports, data, and technical information were reviewed during the planning process. Refer to the Base Plan for a complete list of existing plans and information that was incorporated into this HMP.

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2.8 Continuing Public Engagement
The city plans to continue public hazard and mitigation engagement by sending an annual defensible space letter to homeowners and collaborating with the Point Arena Fire Safe Council to disseminate information at community events such as Block Party and Fish Fest.

2.9 Changes in Community Priorities
The city’s priorities have evolved in recent years, with the pandemic no longer being a primary concern. Focus has shifted toward addressing infrastructure vulnerabilities, such as reengineering the parking lot at Arena Cove to better withstand past and potential future hazards. Additionally, the city now regularly jets sewer lines to support water treatment system reliability and reduce maintenance-related risks.

2.9.1 Development Trends
The City of Point Arena has not experienced any development changes in the past five years that have increased its vulnerability to natural hazards. In terms of future development, the city does not expect increased vulnerability to drought or severe storms, but there will be greater exposure to both hazards if growth occurs. The city does not anticipate future development increasing exposure to coastal hazards, mass earth movements, or tsunamis, due to the California Coastal Commission's development regulations along the coastal shoreline. In comparison, future development is not expected to increase earthquake vulnerability, as it will adhere to the latest building codes. The city does not foresee future development increasing exposure to flooding or wildfires.

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3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

3.1 Hazard Risk Ranking
TABLE 1 shows the rankings for the City of Point Arena. Extreme heat and extreme cold or freeze hazard effects do not currently pose an immediate or significant risk to the city and are therefore not a mitigation priority. There are no dams or levees within the City of Point Arena, and no dam-inundation areas from dams outside the city pose a risk to Point Arena.

Table 1 City of Point Arena Hazard Risk Ranking
Hazard Risk Rank
Coastal Hazards (Flood, Sea-level rise,
Erosion)
High
Dam & Levee Incidents Not Applicable
Drought Low
Earthquake High
Extreme Cold or Freeze Not Applicable
Extreme Heat Not Applicable
Flood (Inland) Moderate
Mass Earth Movements (landslides, rock falls,
debris flows)
Moderate
Severe Storms High
Tsunami Moderate
Wildfire Low

3.2 Exposure Analysis

3.2.1 Lifelines
The lifeline analysis for the City of Point Arena identified 11 total structures within city boundaries, as summarized below and shown in FIGURE 2. “Footprint” hazards, those with clearly defined boundaries, were evaluated to determine the total number and types of community lifelines exposed within these areas. Additionally, narratives from the Point Arena Steering Committee highlight critical facility assets that were not captured in the quantitative analysis, providing important context for understanding local vulnerabilities.

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• Safety and Security: 7 locations
• Food, Hydration, Shelter: 2 locations
• Health and Medical: 2 locations
• Energy: 0 locations
• Communications: 0 locations
• Transportation: 0 locations
• Hazardous Materials: 0 locations
• Water Systems: 0 locations

3.2.2 Parcel Inventory
An analysis was also conducted on parcels exposed to various footprint hazards affecting the City of Point Arena. Because this analysis was performed at the parcel level, any parcel with even a portion intersecting a hazard area is considered at risk. Consequently, structures located on these parcels may not be directly within the hazard zone. A summary of the total parcel inventory for the City of Point Arena is provided in TABLE 2 and illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Table 2 Total Structures in the City of Point Arena
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 48 $5,620,240 $8,781,859
Industrial 2 $102,060 $102,541
Institutional 9 $387,156 $922,082
Miscellaneous 8 $64,886 $108,572
Residential 210 $14,427,941 $20,060,700
Rural 37 $5,525,769 $3,306,642
No Data 12 $470,484 $352,635
Total 326 $26,598,536 $33,635,031
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Figure 2 Lifelines in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 3 Parcels in the City of Point Arena

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3.3 Coastal Hazards: Flooding, Sea Level Rise, Erosion

3.3.1 Past Events
The following events were noted in the National Centers for Environmental Information’s Storm Events Database as occurring in the City of Point Arena. • February 5, 1998: A combination of heavy surf, strong winds, and high tide caused coastal flooding at Arena Cove, near the town of Point Arena (NCEI). • February 15, 1998: A rogue wave impacted the Point Arena harbor, sweeping into the parking lot. Approximately 30 vehicles were displaced, though only minor damage was reported. Significant sand, logs, and debris were deposited in the area (NCEI).

The city has also noted the following recent events that resulted in significant damages. • January 15, 2016: In 2017, Point Arena remained under a local emergency declaration related to storm impacts affecting Arena Cove, the Point Arena Pier, and nearby roads.

City records show the declaration stayed in effect and was renewed several times over the course of the year.
• The physical damage at Arena Cove impacted the parking lot, jetty, and seawall and was caused by unusually large waves during a storm. California Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency on January 23, 2017, for storm damage in many counties, including Mendocino County. The President ultimately declared a major disaster for the State of California on February 14, 2017 under FEMA-4301-DR-CA. • This declaration made FEMA’s Public Assistance funding available to eligible local governments, including those in Mendocino County. Those funds were used to repair and improve the parking lot.
• January 2023: Point Arena declared a local emergency in response to a series of winter storms affecting the city. The declaration addressed atmospheric river conditions that threatened Point Arena with heavy rainfall, flooding, strong winds, debris, downed trees, and power outages. The City Council ratified the declaration on January 12, 2023. • Arena Cove experienced flood inundation during the storm event, including waves overtopping the seawall and carrying rubble and debris into the parking lot.

The broader storm sequence resulted in a presidential major disaster declaration for the State of California on January 14, 2023, under FEMA-4683-DR-CA, with later amendments including Mendocino County for disaster assistance.

3.3.2 Location
FIGURE 4 shows the sea-level rise risk areas and FIGURE 5 shows the Coastal High Hazard Zones (FEMA Zones V and VE) areas in the city.

The County of Mendocino’s ongoing sea-level rise planning focuses on understanding how rising seas will intensify coastal flooding, erosion, and storm-driven impacts over time.

Projections indicate that rising sea levels will increase the frequency of tidal flooding, accelerate

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bluff and shoreline erosion, and amplify storm-surge effects, putting roads, infrastructure, and coastal communities at risk. Draft mapping (as of April 2026) from this analysis is presented in FIGURE 6, FIGURE 7, and FIGURE 8. Note: This draft data was not utilized for any analysis in the following exposure analysis.

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Figure 4 Sea-Level Rise Risk Areas in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 5 Coastal High Hazard Zones (FEMA Zones V and VE) in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 6 Expected Tidal Inundation Areas in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 7 Expected Erosion Areas in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 8 Expected Coastal Flood Areas in the City of Point Arena

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3.3.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee developed the following problem statements to identify local vulnerability to coastal hazard events.
• The access road to the Pier is flood-prone and sustained significant damage during the 2022 winter storms. Continued flooding threatens roadway integrity, emergency access, and safe public use.
• Arena Cove has a history of storm-related damage, including 2017 impacts that required FEMA-funded rehabilitation of the parking lot and replacement of a failed guide pile.

This recurring vulnerability threatens critical waterfront infrastructure and public access. • Flooding of the Garcia River frequently forces bridge closures, isolating the community due to the lack of an alternative northern access route. This disruption poses risks to life safety, emergency response, and essential services.
• High tide events allow ocean waters to enter Point Arena Creek, causing localized flooding. This tidal inundation threatens nearby infrastructure, limits access, and increases flood risk for adjacent properties.
• Older adults, people with disabilities, low-income households, and residents without reliable transportation may face greater difficulty evacuating or recovering.

3.3.3.1 Community Lifelines

3.3.3.1.1 Sea-Level Rise
The wastewater lift station at Arena Cove is located in a high risk area for sea-level rise.

3.3.3.1.2 Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zones V and VE)
The lifeline analysis indicates that no critical facilities within the City of Point Arena are located in coastal high-hazard areas, classified as FEMA Zones V and VE.

3.3.3.2 Parcels

3.3.3.2.1 Sea-Level Rise
The parcel analysis for the City of Point Arena is summarized below in TABLE 3. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings exposed to moderate to high sea-level rise risk areas.

Table 3 Point Arena Parcels Exposed to Sea-Level Rise
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 2 $874,860 $2,790,075
Industrial 0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 3 $1,987 $0

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Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Residential 8 $1,220,246 $585,615
Rural 7 $496,218 $234,396
No Data 1 $0 $0
Total 21 $2,593,311 $3,610,086
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.3.3.2.2 Coastal High Hazard Areas (Zone V and VE)
The parcel analysis for the City of Point Arena is summarized below in TABLE 4. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings exposed to coastal high-hazard areas.

Table 4 Point Arena Parcels Exposed to Coastal High Hazard Areas Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 3 $1,292,481 $3,694,932
Industrial 0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 3 $1,987 $0
Residential 8 $1,220,246 $585,615
Rural 7 $496,218 $234,396
No Data 1 $0 $0
Total 22 $3,010,932 $4,514,943
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.4 Drought

3.4.1 Past Events
There are no unique drought events that have impacted the City of Point Arena in the past.

Refer to section 4.7 Drought in the Base Plan.

3.4.2 Location
The entire City of Point Arena is vulnerable to drought impacts.

3.4.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee noted that although current water availability during drought is not a significant concern, the community’s water system is privately managed and operates outside the city’s infrastructure. This external management raises uncertainty about future system reliability, oversight, and resilience to climate-related impacts.

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Drought can affect people through water restrictions, increased costs, and reduced access to reliable water. In a small, remote community such as Point Arena, disruptions to water availability may be harder for residents to manage. Older adults, medically fragile residents, low-income households, renters, and residents with limited English proficiency may have fewer resources to adapt.

3.5 Earthquake

3.5.1 Past Events
The 1906 San Francisco earthquake had major impacts on Point Arena. The San Andreas rupture extended all the way to Point Arena, where horizontal fault offset was about 15 feet, one of the larger displacements documented along the 1906 rupture. The shaking severely damaged much of downtown Point Arena, including the town’s original lighthouse, which was damaged beyond repair. Point Arena was also significant geologically because it marked the north end of the observed 1906 surface rupture before the fault passes offshore, underscoring how close the community was to the zone of greatest deformation.

Refer to section 4.8 Earthquake in the Base Plan for additional historical events.

3.5.2 Location
The Northern segment of the San Andreas fault is closest to the City of Point Arena. Refer to section 4.8 Earthquake of the Base Plan for the location of fault lines in the county that could cause earthquake events in the city.

3.5.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to earthquake events.
• The wastewater treatment plant and water treatment facilities are currently protected from Arena Creek by berms that may fail during an earthquake, creating a risk of facility damage and subsequent creek contamination. The City has received State Water Board grant funding to plan for rehabilitation of the wastewater system, including the treatment plant.
• The City Firehouse is an unreinforced masonry structure that houses public works vehicles and storage, but requires substantial repairs to be safely used for public purposes. A study identified needed structural improvements, highlighting its vulnerability.
• The wastewater treatment plant and water treatment facilities have not undergone seismic structural or nonstructural assessments in many years, leaving potential vulnerabilities unaddressed and increasing the risk of operational failure during an earthquake.

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• City Hall, which houses law enforcement and the Emergency Operations Center, has not received seismic upgrades or a recent structural assessment. A facility review identified needed hazard-related improvements, underscoring current risks. • A large water tank located directly upstream of town poses a significant hazard, as structural failure during an earthquake could result in substantial downstream damage and threats to public safety.
• Older adults, people with disabilities, renters, lower-income households, and residents without reliable transportation may face greater challenges evacuating and recovering.

3.6 Flood (Inland)

3.6.1 Past Events
Many of the past flood events that have impacted the City of Point Arena are detailed in Section 4.11 of the Base Plan.

3.6.2 Location
FIGURE 9 shows the 100-year floodplain areas in the city.

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Figure 9 FEMA 100-Year Floodplain in the City of Point Arena

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3.6.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee developed the following problem statements that identify local vulnerability to flooding.
• Flooding of the Garcia River often cuts off the community’s only northern access route, isolating residents and limiting emergency response capabilities. • Storm events cause the creek to back up, leading to roadway flooding and closures when water levels rise, disrupting transportation and access. • The wastewater treatment plant is situated in an area with potential flood exposure, creating long-term risk to critical infrastructure despite the absence of past flood incidents.
• Vegetation along Arena Creek is overgrown, reducing channel capacity and contributing to flooding on Port Road. This flooding threatens critical emergency and commercial access at Arena Cove.
• Residents with limited mobility, income, transportation, or English proficiency may need additional support to receive warnings, evacuate, and recover.

3.6.3.1 Community Lifelines
There are no community lifeline facilities located within the City of Point Arena's inland floodplain, indicating minimal direct flood risk to critical infrastructure.

3.6.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis identified 53 parcels that are exposed to the 100-year floodplain. The majority of these parcels contain residential structures, as shown in TABLE 5 below. There are no additional parcels located within the 500-year floodplain or Floodplain Awareness Zones in the City of Point Arena.

Table 5 Point Arena Parcels in the 100-Year Floodplain
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 6 $1,100,133 $1,529,672
Industrial 1 $25,800 $0
Institutional 0 0 $0
Miscellaneous 1 $14,188 $0
Residential 34 $2,471,997 $2,012,820
Rural 8 $753,533 $621,803
No Data 3 $61,313 $46,880
100-Year
Floodplain Total 53 $4,426,964 $4,211,175
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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3.7 Mass Earth Movements: Landslides, Rock Falls, & Debris Flow

3.7.1 Past Events
There are no unique mass earth movement events that have impacted the City of Point Arena in the past. Refer to section 4.12 Mass Earth Movements in the Base Plan.

3.7.2 Location
FIGURE 10 shows the areas susceptible to landslide risk. The areas along and near Point Arena Creek have a high to very high landslide risk. At the same time, areas east of the city center are at a moderate to high risk of landslides.

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Figure 10 Landslide Risk Areas in the City of Point Arena

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3.7.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee noted that Bluff Top Road is highly susceptible to landslides, creating significant safety risks for hikers and restricting emergency access and access to wastewater facilities.

These hazards can also isolate residents or limit access to essential services. People with limited mobility, limited transportation, or limited access to emergency information may be more affected.

3.7.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis for the City of Point Arena found that two critical facilities are located in areas susceptible to landslides, classified as high to very high risk: one safety and security facility and one health and medical facility. No debris flow or rockfall hazard areas have been mapped within the city boundaries.

3.7.3.2 Parcel
The parcel analysis for the City of Point Arena is summarized below in TABLE 6. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings in areas with high to very high landslide risk.

Table 6 Point Arena Parcels Exposed to Landslides (High-Very High Risk Areas) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 43 $5,079,153 $8,305,860
Industrial 2 $102,060 $102,541
Institutional 5 $338,789 $548,298
Miscellaneous 6 $64,886 $108,572
Residential 171 $11,633,852 $16,530,076
Rural 35 $4,772,694 $3,306,642
No Data 11 $470,484 $352,635
Total 273 $22,461,918 $29,254,624
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.8 Severe Storms

3.8.1 Past Events
The following records are noted in the NCEI Storm Events Database as severe storm events directly impacting the City of Point Arena or the vicinity of Point Arena. None of these events have records of casualties.
• November 30, 1998 - The Point Arena Lighthouse C-MAN reached 45 knots (52 mph).

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• January 25, 2001 - Doppler radar indicated numerous waterspouts along an intense cold front from Pt. St. George to Pt. Arena. The pilot of a WP-3 Orion weather research aircraft confirmed waterspouts by observing one west of Point Arena while conducting a flight in support of the PacJet project.

3.8.2 Location
The entire City of Point Arena is at risk of severe storm events.

3.8.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to severe storm events.
• Severe rainfall is the primary weather-related hazard affecting Point Arena, driving most local flooding and erosion impacts.
• Arena Cove experiences localized flooding during intense rain events, which high tides and ongoing coastal erosion can worsen.
• Extreme rainfall can trigger landslides that block access to the wastewater treatment plant, threatening operational continuity of critical infrastructure. This is the top asset of concern.
• Overgrown vegetation along Arena Creek, linked to the decline of historic cattle grazing, reduces channel capacity and contributes to flooding on Port Road, a key economic access route to Arena Cove.
• Older adults, medically dependent residents, people with disabilities, mobile home residents, and households without backup power or reliable transportation may be more vulnerable.

3.9 Tsunami

3.9.1 Past Events
There are no unique tsunami events that have impacted the City of Point Arena in the past.

Refer to section 4.14 Tsunami in the Base Plan.

3.9.2 Location
FIGURE 11 shows the tsunami risk areas within the City of Point Arena.

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Figure 11 Tsunami Risk Areas in the City of Point Arena

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3.9.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to tsunami events.
• Arena Cove, a key destination for tourism and local fishing, is highly vulnerable to tsunami events that could endanger visitors, disrupt commercial and private fishing operations, and negatively impact the local economy.
• The nearby wastewater treatment plant is at risk of tsunami damage, which could lead to system failure and result in significant environmental and public health impacts. This is the top asset of concern.
• Residents with limited mobility, limited transportation, language barriers, or limited access to alerts may face greater difficulty reaching safe areas in time.

3.9.3.1 Community Lifelines
The wastewater lift station and the ‘green shed’, which houses electrical equipment supporting the lift station, at Arena Cove would be impacted by a larger tsunami.

3.9.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis identified 34 parcels in the City of Point Arena that are exposed to tsunami risk areas, the majority of which are residential. These parcels are summarized in TABLE 7 below.

Table 7 Point Arena Parcels Exposed to Tsunami Risk Areas Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 5 $1,668,177 $4,321,796
Industrial 0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 4 $16,175 $0
Residential 15 $1,776,587 $978,821
Rural 7 $496,218 $234,396
No Data 3 $61,313 $46,880
Total 34 $4,018,470 $5,581,893
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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3.10 Wildfire

3.10.1 Past Events
There have been no wildfires within the city between 2014 and 2024. FIGURE 12 shows the location of past wildfire events outside of the city. Refer to Section 4.15 Wildfire of the Base Plan.

3.10.2 Location
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) classify areas as having moderate, high, or very high wildfire hazard based on factors such as fuel loading, slope, fire weather, and wind conditions that influence fire behavior and spread (CAL FIRE). State Responsibility Areas (SRA) are generally rural or undeveloped lands where CAL FIRE provides wildland fire protection, while Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) are more developed areas where fire protection is provided by local fire agencies. For the purposes of this analysis, SRA and LRA were mapped together to provide full coverage of the planning area. Risk analysis focused on assets located within high to very high FHSZ, which represents the greatest wildfire hazard. FIGURE 13 shows the Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Point Arena.

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Figure 12 Historical Wildfires in the City of Point Arena

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Figure 13 Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the City of Point Arena

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3.10.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Point Arena Steering Committee noted that the area’s high coastal humidity helps to reduce the risk and spread of wildfires within the city’s boundaries. Critical infrastructure at most risk are power lines and infrastructure. Older adults, people with disabilities, residents without reliable vehicles, renters, lower-income households, and people with respiratory conditions may face greater challenges during response and recovery.

3.10.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis found that no critical facilities in the City of Point Arena are located in high wildfire-risk areas.

3.10.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the City of Point Arena is summarized below in TABLE 8. Residential structures represent the largest category of buildings in high wildfire risk areas.

Table 8 Point Arena Parcels Exposed to Wildfire Risk Areas (High Risk) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 0 $0 $0
Industrial 0 $0 $0
Institutional 0 $0 $0
Miscellaneous 0 $0 $0
Residential 2 $337,239 $604,443
Rural 2 $705,214 $0
No Data 0 $0 $0
Total 4 $1,042,453 $604,443
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Adoption Resolution 41
Appendix A Adoption Resolution

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2 Table of Contents
TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................................................... 2 1 INTRODUCTION....................................................................................................................... 3 2 MITIGATION STRATEGY........................................................................................................... 5

2.1 MITIGATION GOALS ........................................................................................................ 5

2.2 2021 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 5

2.3 2026 MITIGATION ACTIONS............................................................................................ 8

2.4 MITIGATION CAPABILITIES............................................................................................ 12

2.5 COMPLIANCE WITH FLOODPLAIN REQUIREMENTS...................................................... 13

2.6 PLANNING INTEGRATION.............................................................................................. 14

2.7 CONTINUING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT............................................................................ 14

2.8 CHANGES IN COMMUNITY PRIORITIES......................................................................... 14 3 HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK ASSESSMENT............................................................... 16

3.1 HAZARD RISK RANKING................................................................................................. 16

3.2 EXPOSURE ANALYSIS..................................................................................................... 16

3.3 DAM & LEVEE FAILURE.................................................................................................. 21

3.4 DROUGHT...................................................................................................................... 23

3.5 EARTHQUAKE ................................................................................................................ 24

3.6 EXTREME COLD OR FREEZE........................................................................................... 25

3.7 EXTREME HEAT ............................................................................................................. 26

3.8 FLOOD (INLAND) ........................................................................................................... 26

3.9 MASS MOVEMENTS: LANDSLIDE, ROCK FALLS, & DEBRIS FLOWS ............................... 29

3.10 SEVERE STORMS............................................................................................................ 32

3.11 WILDFIRE....................................................................................................................... 34 APPENDIX A ADOPTION RESOLUTION .......................................................................................... 39 Professional planning services for this plan update were provided by:

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1 Introduction
FIGURE 1 shows the City of Willits boundaries. The following city staff members participated in the HMP planning process and provided input to inform this Annex. A detailed list of the planning roster is provided in Appendix D of the Base Plan. • City Planner
• Community Development Director
• Senior City Planner
• Services and Facilities Director
In addition to the public engagement outlined in the Base Plan, the City of Willits supported outreach efforts through engagement with city staff and distribution of the public survey. The city also engaged stakeholders from non-profits and community-based organizations listed in Section 2 of the Base Plan through the stakeholder survey. To help reach vulnerable and underserved populations, the stakeholder survey was shared with Nuestra Alianza de Willits, a local organization that works closely with these communities.

The West Business Development Center was one stakeholder that provided input through the stakeholder survey. The organization serves entrepreneurs and small business owners across incorporated and unincorporated areas, as well as areas outside the county. The Center noted that recent disasters, including COVID-19, wildfires, and drought, significantly disrupted small business operations. Many small businesses were identified as unprepared or underprepared for disaster impacts, resulting in operational disruptions and permanent closures.

The West Business Development Center identified key hazards of concern for the populations it serves, including coastal hazards, earthquakes, drought, extreme heat, flooding, mass earth movements, severe storms, tsunamis, and wildfires. This feedback was incorporated into the Base Plan under local vulnerabilities for applicable hazards, with additional discussion of small businesses as an under-resourced population to reflect concerns related to disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.

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Figure 1 City of Willits

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2 Mitigation Strategy
The mitigation strategy is a central component of the hazard mitigation plan (HMP) and the primary outcome of the planning process. This strategy serves as a long-term framework for reducing vulnerabilities to hazards. While this document begins by focusing on the mitigation strategy, it is important to acknowledge the various components that informed the planning process. These inputs included decisions and information from the Planning Partners, Core Planning Team (CPT), and general public, in addition to the results of the risk and vulnerability assessment. All of this information is captured in detail across the County of Mendocino Base Plan and this City of Willits Annex.

2.1 Mitigation Goals
The City of Willits has adopted the hazard mitigation goals and objectives developed by the Core Planning Team and described in Section 1.1 of the Base Plan.

2.2 2021 Mitigation Actions
The following list provides details on the progress made toward implementation of the 2021 mitigation actions for the City of Willits. Additional details about the status of implementation can be found in the Base Plan HMP Appendix B.
• Complete
o (ma-AH-WL-261) Develop a City-wide evacuation plan that identifies alternative evacuation routes in the event of a natural disaster.
o (ma-AH-WL-263) Install redundant communication systems, beyond existing landline, internet, and cell tower infrastructure, to allow for emergency notification in the event of primary systems becoming compromised during a natural disaster.
o (ma-DR-WL-266) Amend land use codes to incorporate regulations that encourage and require water savings for development.
o (ma-EQ-WL-101) Seismically retrofit or replace public works and/or emergency response facilities that are necessary during and/or immediately after a disaster or emergency.
o (ma-EQ-269) Develop a memorandum of agreement/understanding with neighboring cities to share building inspection services in the event of a natural disaster.
o (ma-PN-WL-293) Develop alternative sheltering/evacuation locations for distancing required during pandemic and other hazard events.

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• On-Going
o (ma-AH-WL-258) Develop a program that allows for expedited permitting and review process for backup power generation at facilities that are considered critical during a natural disaster (grocery stores, gas stations, cell/communication towers).
o (ma-AH-WL-259) Develop a program that creates incentives, through expedited permitting/review and reduced/waived permit fees, for homeowners and business owners to retrofit their homes and businesses to be more resilient to natural disasters.
o (ma-AH-WL-260) Conduct outreach to the general public to better understand where vulnerable populations live within the City of Willits so that they can be better served by the City with hazard-related outreach. o (ma-DR-WL-265) Replace existing water intensive landscaping with drought resistant landscaping.
o (ma-EW-WL-272) Routinely inspect storm water channels for vegetation build up or encroachment, trash and debris, silt and gravel build up, and erosion or bank failure.
o (ma-EW-WL-273) Implement a tree removal program for trees that are at a high risk to snapping in wind events around city facilities and infrastructure. o (ma-FL-WL-96) Retrofit wastewater and potable water facilities that are subject to flooding. Retrofitting activities may include elevating vulnerable equipment, electrical controls, and other equipment, fastening and sealing manhole covers to prevent floodwater infiltration, and protecting wells and other potable water from infiltration and flood damage by raising controls and well pipes. o (ma-FL-WL-103) Continue to participate in the NFIP program by enforcing the floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood damage. In addition, join the Community Rating System (CRS) program. A community that participates in additional floodplain management activities, such as those outlined in the CRS program, will reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance rating, and promote awareness of flood insurance.
o (ma-WF-WL-284) Develop a vegetation management program to remove understory brush and excessive fuels around city roads, evacuation routes, and buildings.
o (ma-WF-WL-291) Increase city water supply storage to achieve adequate water pressure throughout the city's system for emergency fire response and so fire sprinkler systems in buildings can function properly.

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• In Progress
o (ma-DR-WL-264) Implement water supply contingency projects, explore and acquire alternative water supplies, and retrofit water supply systems in order to improve water supply and delivery and conserve water.
o (ma-EW-WL-271) Perform a feasibility study for flood proofing options and analyze the drainage systems city-wide.
• No Progress – Continue Action
o (ma-EQ-WL-267) Install seismic gas shut-off valves on County buildings to prevent the flow of gas into buildings during a seismic event. o (ma-EQ-WL-268) Retrofit / Harden city-owned critical facilities and buildings and their ability to withstand earthquakes.
o (ma-EQ-WL-270) Encourage privately owned critical facilities to evaluate the ability of the buildings to withstand earthquakes and to address any deficiencies identified.
o (ma-EQ-WL-294) Conduct seismic inspections of city facilities to determine what retrofits are needed to make facilities more resilient to seismic events. o (ma-FL-WL-93) Acquire, relocate, or elevate residential structures, in particular those that have been identified as Repetitive Loss (RL) properties that are located within the 100-year floodplain.
o (ma-FL-MCOE-274) Elevate and retrofit bridges and culverts to allow proper stormwater/100-YR flows.
o (ma-PN-WL-292) Install additional barriers and proper ventilation in Emergency Operations Center (EOC, City Hall) to allow for operation of EOC during pandemic and hazard event.
o (ma-WF-WL-92) Create a vegetation management program that provides vegetation management services to elderly, disabled, or low-income property owners who lack the resources to remove flammable vegetation from around their homes.
o (ma-WF-WL-275) Retrofit city facilities with fireproof building materials to better withstand potential impacts of wildfire.
o (ma-WF-WL-288) Implement Mendocino County CWPP Mitigation Projects (Battalion 2: Willits), including a shaded fuel break to protect the Willits water system, construct a replacement fire station, and replace one aging fire apparatus.

2.2.1 Mitigation Successes
The city has identified several mitigation successes since the last HMP update, including:
• Defensible space work on the airport grounds and around the water treatment plant • The newly added Flood Annex to the EOP Element
• Installation of a groundwater emergency backup system

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• Construction of a new firehouse
• Implementation of fire breaks along city property
• Mitigation efforts provided by the California Conservation Corps and CAL FIRE • Acquisition by CAL FIRE of Firehawk helicopters at the Howard Forest Fire Station

2.3 2026 Mitigation Actions
The City of Willits Steering Committee identified and prioritized the following mitigation actions based on the risk assessment and input from the public survey. Refer to the HMP Base Plan – Appendix C for complete details of each of the mitigation actions listed below.

2.3.1 Coastal Hazards
No known hazard areas within the local government’s boundaries. No perceived risk, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.2 Dam and Levee Incident
• High Priority
o (WL2) Morris Dam Dredging. Dredge the Morris Dam to increase reservoir capacity.
o (WL3) Morris Dam Risk Assessment. HHPD: Perform risk assessment of the aging Morris Dam to identify mitigation solutions.
• Medium Priority
o (WL1) Morris Dam Capacity Improvements. Increase the Morris Dam height to increase reservoir capacity.

2.3.3 Drought
• High Priority
o (WL4) Groundwater System Enhancements. Enhancements to the groundwater system to increase capacity & storage of the system.
o (WL5) Water Storage Capacity Improvements. Upgrade existing storage by developing new sites and expanding existing.

2.3.4 Earthquake
• Medium Priority
o (WL6) Gas Line Shutoff Valves. Install gas line shutoff valves on all city facilities. (past action ma-EQ-WL-267)
o (WL7) Seismic Risk Inspections. Conduct seismic inspections of city facilities to determine what retrofits are needed to make facilities more resilient to seismic events. (past action ma-EQ-WL-294)
o (WL8) Retrofit Critical Facilities. Retrofit / Harden city-owned critical facilities and buildings and their ability to withstand earthquakes. (past action ma-EQ-WL-268)

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o (WL9) Private Critical Facility Assessments. Encourage privately owned critical facilities to evaluate the ability of the buildings to withstand earthquakes and to address any deficiencies identified. (past action ma-EQ-WL-270) o (WL31) Improve Water Supply. Implement water supply contingency projects, explore and acquire alternative water supplies, and retrofit water supply systems in order to improve water supply and delivery and conserve water. (ma-DR-WL264) o (WL33) Drought-Resistant Landscaping. Replace existing water intensive landscaping with drought resistant landscaping. (ma-DR-WL-265)

2.3.5 Extreme Cold or Freeze
• Low Priority
o (WL10) Warming Center Educational Campaign. Develop an educational campaign to inform at-risk populations annually during the Winter about warming center resources. Efforts will include coordination with warming centers operated by local nonprofits and religious organizations.

2.3.6 Extreme Heat
• High Priority
o (WL11) Cooling Center Educational Campaign. Develop an educational campaign to inform at-risk populations annually during the Summer about cooling center resources. Efforts will include coordination with cooling centers operated by local nonprofits and religious organizations.

2.3.7 Flood (Inland)
• High Priority
o (WL12) Automatic Annual Maintenance Permits. Coordinate automatic annual maintenance permits from CDFW to allow the city to implement mitigation. o (WL13) Private Property Owner Waterway Maintenance. Coordinate with private property owners on maintenance of local waterways (Caltrans Outlet Creek & Skunk Train Creek along Walnut)
o (WL37) Stormwater Channel Inspection Program. Routinely inspect storm water channels for vegetation build up or encroachment, trash and debris, silt and gravel build up, and erosion or bank failure. (ma-EW-WL-272) o (WL43) Continued NFIP Participation. Continue to participate in the NFIP program by enforcing the floodplain management ordinance to reduce future flood damage. In addition, join the Community Rating System (CRS) program. A community that participates in additional floodplain management activities, such as those outlined in the CRS program, will reduce flood losses, facilitate accurate insurance rating, and promote awareness of flood insurance. (ma-FL-WL-103) • Medium Priority

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o (WL14) Reduce Flooding Exposure. Acquire, relocate, or elevate residential structures, in particular those that have been identified as Repetitive Loss (RL) properties that are located within the 100-year floodplain. There is one Repetitive Loss structure in the city. (past action ma-FL-WL-93) o (WL15) Elevate & Retrofit Bridges and Culverts. Elevate and retrofit bridges and culverts to allow proper stormwater/100-YR flows. (past action ma-FL-MCOE274) o (WL35) Floodproofing & Drainage System Assessment. Perform a feasibility study for flood proofing options and analyze the drainage systems city-wide. (ma-EWWL-271) o (WL41) Water System Retrofits. Retrofit wastewater and potable water facilities that are subject to flooding. Retrofitting activities may include elevating vulnerable equipment, electrical controls, and other equipment, fastening and sealing manhole covers to prevent floodwater infiltration, and protecting wells and other potable water from infiltration and flood damage by raising controls and well pipes. (ma-FL-WL-96)

2.3.8 Mass Earth Movements
• High Priority
o (WL16) Brooktrail Access Road Landslide Mitigation. Construct improvements to the Brooktrail access road to eliminate mass earth movement risk.

2.3.9 Severe Storms
• Medium Priority
o (WL17) Lightning Impact Study of the Water System. Develop an annual public education campaign to launch in the Spring encouraging tree and limb mitigation to reduce impacts to private residents.
o (WL39) Tree Removal Program. Implement a tree removal program for trees that are at a high risk to snapping in wind events around city facilities and infrastructure. (ma-EW-WL-273)
• Low Priority
o (WL18) Tree Maintenance Educational Campaign. Scoping for mitigation options to reduce/eliminate lightning strike impacts on water treatment systems.

2.3.10 Tsunami
No known hazard areas within the local government’s boundaries. No perceived risk, therefore, not a mitigation priority.

2.3.11 Wildfire
• High Priority

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o (WL20) Home Wildfire Mitigation Educational Campaign. Develop an annual public education campaign focused on encouraging structural hardening and defensible space to be broadcast from the Spring through Fall. o (WL22) Harden City Facilities. Retrofit city facilities with fireproof building materials to better withstand potential impacts of wildfire. (past action ma-WFWL-275) o (WL24) Water Plant & Airport Defensible Space. Regularly implement defensible space treatments for the water treatment plant and on the airport grounds. o (WL45) Vegetation Management Program. Develop a vegetation management program to remove understory brush and excessive fuels around city roads, evacuation routes, and buildings. (ma-WF-WL-284)
• Medium Priority
o (WL19) General Plan Wildfire Annex. Develop a Wildfire Annex to the EOP Element to address evacuation and sheltering.
o (WL21) Under-resourced Resident Vegetation Management. Create a vegetation management program that provides vegetation management services to elderly, disabled, or low-income property owners who lack the resources to remove flammable vegetation from around their homes. (past action ma-WF-WL-92) o (WL23) Implement Mendocino County CWPP. Implement Mendocino County CWPP Mitigation Projects (Battalion 2: Willits), including a shaded fuel break to protect the Willits water system, and replace 1 aging fire apparatus. (past action ma-WF-WL-288)

2.3.12 Multi-Hazard
• Medium Priority
o (WL29) Vulnerable Population Outreach. Conduct outreach to the general public to better understand where vulnerable populations live within the City of Willits so that they can be better served by the city with hazard-related outreach. (maAH-WL-260) • Low Priority
o (WL25) Expedited Generator Permitting. Develop a program that allows for an expedited permitting and review process for backup power generation at facilities that are considered critical during a natural disaster (grocery stores, gas stations, cell/communication towers). (ma-AH-WL-258)
o (WL27) Expedited Permitting for Home Retrofits. Develop a program that creates incentives, through expedited permitting/review and reduced/waived permit fees, for homeowners and business owners to retrofit their homes and businesses to be more resilient to natural disasters. (ma-AH-WL-259)

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2.4 Mitigation Capabilities
Planning and regulatory, administrative and technical, financial, and education and outreach capabilities are powerful tools for implementing hazard mitigation. The city currently utilizes or has implemented many of these capabilities, as shown in the lists below.

2.4.1 Planning and Regulatory Capabilities
• Building Codes (Year)
o 2022 California Building Code
• Zoning Ordinance
• Subdivision Ordinance
• Hazard-Specific Ordinance
o Earthquake Hazard Reduction in Existing Buildings. (Ch. 15.36) Floodplain Combining (Ch. 17.40); Subdivision Standards. (§ 17.40.110); Natural Hazard Combining. (Ch. 17.46)
• Site Plan Review Requirements
• Capital Improvement Program or Plan (CIP)
• Erosion / Sediment Control Program
o Erosion and sediment procedures designated in Design and Construction Standards, 2009
• Seismic Safety Program (Non-Structural)
o Updated seismic safety procedures identified in General Plan Safety Element update
• General Plan Safety Element
o 2019 Update
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP)
o Participated in the Mendocino County CWPP 2025
• Local Emergency Operations Plan
• National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Participant
o Entry Date: 7/19/82
• Floodplain Ordinance
o Floodway Combining (-FW) Zone. (Ch. 17.38)
• Flood Insurance Study
• Flood Insurance Rate Map/DFIRM
o Current Effective Map: 9/19/2025
o Initial FIRM Identified: 7/19/1982

2.4.2 Administrative and Technical Capabilities
• Planner/Engineer (Land Development)
• Engineer/Professional (Construction)

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• Floodplain Administrator
• Public Information Officer
• Emergency Manager
• Building Official
• Grant Writing / Management
• Warning Systems / Services (general)
o The city uses MendoAlert & Nixle for all general emergencies. • Mutual Aid

2.4.3 Financial Capabilities
• Utilities Fees
• Stormwater Service Fees
• Capital Improvement Project Funding

2.4.4 Education and Outreach Capabilities
• Social Media
• Fire Safe Councils
o The Mendocino County Fire Safe Council assists local councils with a variety of needs, including Pine Mountain, Ridgewood Park, and Sherwood in the Willits area.

2.4.5 Capability Enhancements
The city plans to expand several specific capabilities over the next five years, as outlined in the 2026 Mitigation Actions section, which also details initiatives that strengthen these mitigation efforts. The city would like to enhance staffing capacity to lead grant pursuits and grant management efforts, in addition to leading development of other required emergency management-related plans.

2.5 Compliance with Floodplain Requirements
TABLE 1 details the city's current policy coverage. As of July 31, 2025, 3 policy claims had been made and paid, totaling $22,895 in payments. The city has one repetitive loss property and no severe loss properties.

Table 1 City of Willits NFIP Participation and Insurance Details Date of Entry Initial FHBM
Identified
Initial FIRM
Identified
Policies in
Force
Total
Coverage
7/19/1982 2/8/1974 7/19/1982 25 $6,870,000
Source: FEMA Community Status Book and OpenFEMA
The city’s NFIP compliance is implemented through the following designations:

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• The City of Willits Building Official has been appointed as the Floodplain Administrator to implement and enforce the provisions of Chapter 17.40 Floodplain Management Ordinance of the City Municipal Code and other appropriate Sections of 44 CFR (National Flood Insurance Program regulations) pertaining to floodplain management.

2.6 Planning Integration
Integrating the HMP into other planning mechanisms is crucial for effectively implementing the mitigation strategy. This also benefits communities by preventing conflicts among planning documents. The city incorporated the 2021 HMP into its Land Use Element Update.

Additionally, the city plans to incorporate the updated HMP into several efforts, including the Safety Element Update, the EOP Element Update, and annual Capital Improvement Plan updates.

2.6.1 Incorporation of Existing Plans and Information
All HMP-relevant existing plans, studies, reports, data, and technical information were reviewed during the planning process. The following list provides an overview of how City of Willits resources were incorporated into the 2026 HMP. Refer to the Base Plan for a complete list of existing plans and information that was incorporated into this HMP. • These plans helped to inform the hazard profiles:
o City of Willits Draft Safety Element 2019
o City of Willits Adopted Housing Element 2019-2027

2.7 Continuing Public Engagement
The City of Willits plans to continue public hazard and mitigation engagement through the following tools:
• Hazard education and booth materials at multiple public events held in the Spring through Fall
• Safety and EOP Element update public engagement events • Informational posting on the city website
• Public events partnered with the county and community FireWise efforts

2.8 Changes in Community Priorities
The City of Willits Steering Committee has noticed increased public attention pertaining to wildfire risk and mitigation following the nearby 2020 Oak Fire.

2.8.1 Development Trends
The City of Willits does not anticipate future development increasing vulnerability to inundation, drought, floodplains, extreme temperatures, or severe storms, as new development will meet current building codes, though exposure may increase with growth.

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Future development will increase exposure to mass earth movements and wildfires; however, wildfire risk can be reduced through defensible space and home hardening measures.

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3 Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment

3.1 Hazard Risk Ranking
TABLE 2 shows the rankings for the City of Willits. Due to the city’s inland location away from the coast and lack of past event impacts it was determined that coastal hazards and tsunamis are not a mitigation priority.

Table 2 City of Willits Hazard Risk Ranking
Hazard Risk Rank
Coastal Hazards (Flood, Sea-level rise,
Erosion)
Not Applicable
Dam & Levee Incidents Moderate
Drought High
Earthquake High
Extreme Cold or Freeze Moderate
Extreme Heat Moderate
Flood (Inland) Moderate
Mass Earth Movements (landslides, rock falls,
debris flows)
Moderate
Severe Storms Low
Tsunami Not Applicable
Wildfire High

3.2 Exposure Analysis

3.2.1 Lifelines
The lifeline analysis for the City of Willits identified 42 total structures within city boundaries, as summarized below and shown in FIGURE 2. “Footprint” hazards, those with clearly defined boundaries, were evaluated to determine the number and types of community lifelines exposed within these areas. In addition, local narratives highlight critical facility assets not captured in the quantitative analysis, providing important context for understanding community vulnerabilities.

1. Safety and Security: 11 locations

2. Food, Hydration, Shelter: 7 locations

3. Health and Medical: 7 locations

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4. Energy: 0 locations

5. Communications: 0 locations

6. Transportation: 15 locations

7. Hazardous Materials: 2 locations

8. Water Systems: 0 locations
Beyond exposure analysis, the City of Willits Steering Committee also identified general infrastructure concerns relevant to all hazards, listed below. • Many cell towers lack backup power generation, which is deemed a critical life/safety threat for people without landlines.
• The City of Willits does not have a functioning redundant communications system. • Many critical local businesses (grocery stores, gas stations) lack backup power generation.
• Many property owners lack the funding to retrofit their homes and businesses to be more resilient to natural disasters.
• The city does not know where vulnerable populations live, making hazard-related outreach difficult.
• The city lacks an alternative north/south evacuation route through the city should Main St. be compromised during an emergency.

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Figure 2 FEMA Lifelines in the City of Willits

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3.2.2 Structure Inventory
An analysis was also conducted on parcels exposed to various footprint hazards affecting the City of Willits. Because this analysis was performed at the parcel level, any parcel with even a portion intersecting a hazard area is considered at risk. Consequently, structures located on these parcels may not be directly within the hazard zone. A summary of the total parcel inventory for the City of Willits is provided in TABLE 3 and illustrated in FIGURE 3.

Table 3 Total Structures in the City of Willits
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 268 $46,918,048 $149,332,330
Industrial 115 $15,674,352 $26,530,470
Institutional 36 $3,316,675 $15,878,414
Miscellaneous 33 $158,792 $0
Residential 1,490 $97,463,836 $223,042,540
Rural 50 $3,302,965 $1,721,289
No Data 111 $2,777,659 $3,987,354
Total 2,103 $169,612,327 $420,492,397
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

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Figure 3 Parcels in the City of Willits

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3.3 Dam & Levee Failure

3.3.1 Past Events
There are no documented dam or levee incidents that have impacted the City of Willits. For regional dam trends across Mendocino County, see Section 4.6 Dam and Levee Incidents of the County Base Plan.

3.3.2 Location
There are no dam inundation areas within the City of Willits. However, Scout Lake Dam, situated east of the city, is classified as a high-hazard dam and could potentially cause flooding in areas to the east, possibly blocking nearby egress routes. These dams and inundation zones are depicted in FIGURE 4 below.

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Figure 4 Dam Inundation Areas in the City of Willits

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3.3.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
Older adults, people with disabilities, low-income households, and residents without reliable transportation may face greater difficulty receiving warnings or responding in time.

3.3.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis determined that there are no dam inundation zones within the City of Willits, so no community lifelines within the city are at risk from dam-related flooding.

However, the Steering Committee pointed out that the city's wastewater treatment plant, which serves city residents, is actually located in an inundation area outside the city limits.

3.3.3.2 Parcels
There are no dam inundation areas within the City of Willits, and therefore, no parcels are exposed to dam-related flooding hazards.

3.4 Drought

3.4.1 Past Events
According to records from the U.S. Drought Monitor, during the 1,305-week period from January 1, 2000, through January 1, 2025, the City of Willits spent 647 weeks (50% of the time period) in some level of drought, defined as Abnormally Dry (D0) or worse conditions. This period includes 486 weeks of Severe Drought (D2),114 weeks of Extreme Drought (D3), and 43 weeks of Exceptional Drought (D4). FIGURE 5 illustrates these periods of extreme and exceptional drought, including the duration of these occurrences and the range of affected county percentages.

Figure 5 Periods of Drought in the City of Willits, January 2000 – January 2025

3.4.2 Location
The entire City of Willits is vulnerable to drought impacts.

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3.4.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee notes several vulnerabilities to drought within the city, listed below. • Drought can lead to water supply issues for the city. • The city lacks a backup water supply should the primary surface water supply be impacted by a natural disaster.
• Public facilities may use more water than needed for basic function such as parks and landscaping.
• There is an opportunity for the city land use code to include more requirements for developers to install drought tolerant landscaping.
• The 2025 Drought Resiliency Plan lists the City of Willits as one of the county's locations with the highest density of at-risk domestic wells and are high-risk for degraded water quality.
• Older adults, medically fragile residents, low-income households, renters, and residents with limited English proficiency may have fewer resources to adapt. These impacts may be more difficult for households already facing economic or health-related stress.

3.5 Earthquake

3.5.1 Past Events
The City of Willits has experienced several notable earthquake events, though most have been moderate in magnitude. The most significant historical event was a magnitude 4.8 earthquake on November 22, 1977, which produced measurable shaking in the area.1 Since then, smaller earthquakes have been recorded near Willits, including a magnitude 3.4 event in December 2020 and a magnitude 3.3 event north of Willits in July 2024, with light shaking reported and no significant damage2. Additional moderate earthquakes, ranging from approximately magnitude

3.7 to 3.9, occurred within 10–15 miles of Willits between 2018 and 2021, alongside smaller tremors in the 1.8–2.7 magnitude range typical of ongoing regional seismic activity3.

Refer to Section 4.8 Earthquake, Table 18, of the Base Plan for a list of past earthquake events that have impacted Mendocino County and the City of Willits.

3.5.2 Location
The City of Willits lies near the Maacama Fault zone. Refer to Section 4.8 of the Base Plan for the location of fault lines in the county that could cause earthquake events in the city. 1 THE WILLITS, CALIFORNIA, MAGNITUDE-4.8 EARTHQUAKE OF NOVEMBER 22, 1977 | U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 2 LATE-NIGHT QUAKE RATTLES WILLITS — USGS REPORTS MAGNITUDE 3.4 • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA 3 SMALL EARTHQUAKE SHAKES WILLITS • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA

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3.5.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee notes several vulnerabilities to earthquakes within the city, listed below.
• City facilities lack seismic shut-off valves to prevent gas leaking in a seismic event. • Older construction and particularly unreinforced masonry (URM) are at a higher risk of experiencing damage during earthquakes.
• Historic buildings can be more susceptible to ground shaking since many of these buildings have weakened with age and were built before the use of building codes. • The City lacks staff to handle the volume life/safety building inspections after major disasters.
• City facilities have not been inspected for seismic safety in many years. • Renters, older adults, people with disabilities, and lower-income households may face greater challenges evacuating, sheltering, and recovering.

3.6 Extreme Cold or Freeze

3.6.1 Past Events
The City of Willits has an average minimum temperature of approximately 40°F annually. While these temperatures are generally above freezing at 32°F, the city has experienced lows reaching the mid‑20s °F during extreme cold events, such as the freeze warnings in March 2025 when temperatures dropped as low as 25°F.4 According to regional climate data and historical reports, Willits has experienced multiple frost and freeze events in recent years, including warnings in October 2024, March 2025, and November 2025.5 These events can impact sensitive vegetation, agriculture, and outdoor plumbing, particularly for local crops and gardens that are vulnerable to frost damage.

3.6.2 Location
The entire City of Willits is vulnerable to the impacts of extreme cold or freeze.

3.6.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted the greatest concerns with under-resourced or socially vulnerable populations, who would benefit from formalized warming centers. Older adults, people with disabilities, people experiencing homelessness, and medically dependent residents may be more vulnerable.

There are no concerns with any specific critical infrastructure, though pipe freezing can impact all structures.
4 TUESDAY MORNING FREEZE WARNING, FROST ADVISORY ISSUED FOR MENDOCINO COUNTY • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO

COUNTY, CA
5 FRIDAY MORNING FREEZE, FROST WARNINGS ISSUED FOR ENTIRE COUNTY • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA

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3.7 Extreme Heat

3.7.1 Past Events
The City of Willits experiences warm to hot summers, with average high temperatures in July around 84 °F. The highest recorded temperature in Willits in recent years was 106°F on July 12, 2022. Willits also falls within inland Mendocino County regions that have been subject to excessive heat warnings during summer heat waves, with forecasted temperatures exceeding 100 °F, posing risks to public health and local infrastructure.6

3.7.2 Location
The entire City of Willits is vulnerable to the impacts of extreme heat.

3.7.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted the greatest concerns with under-resourced or socially vulnerable populations, who would benefit from formalized cooling centers. Older adults, AFN populations, residents with chronic health conditions, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness, and households without reliable cooling or transportation may be most vulnerable.

There are no concerns with any specific critical infrastructure.

3.8 Flood (Inland)

3.8.1 Past Events
The National Center for Environmental Information (NCEI) database recorded a significant flood event on December 30, 2022, that impacted several locations in and around Willits. These flooding-related closures include the East Barbara Lane Bridge at Railroad Avenue, eastbound East Valley Road, the corner of East Commercial Street and Lenmore Avenue, and Walnut Street between Locust Street and Poplar Avenue. Additionally, there were multiple reports of minor flooding along Highway 101 between Laytonville and Willits.

3.8.2 Location
A map of the FEMA flood zones and the Floodplain Awareness Zones in the City of Willits is shown in FIGURE 6 below. This flooding is primarily caused by local valley drainage from multiple small creeks that converge in the Little Lake Valley.
6 EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING ISSUED WITH 106+ DEGREE TEMPS FORECAST FOR INLAND MENDOCINO COUNTY; LIGHTNING REPORTED (UPDATED 5:07 P.M.) • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA

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Figure 6 Flood Zones in City of Willits

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3.8.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Steering Committee noted the city’s wastewater treatment facility routinely floods during heavy rain events. City buildings and roads are impacted by localized flooding, including pooling of water after heavy rain events. Heavy rain events lead to natural drainage channels becoming choked with debris and gravel, which reduces their ability to convey stormwater downstream and leads to localized flooding on city roads.

People in lower-cost housing, rental units, or mobile homes may face greater exposure.

Residents with limited mobility, income, transportation, or English proficiency may need additional support to receive warnings, evacuate, and recover.

3.8.3.1 Community Lifelines
The lifeline analysis of facilities within floodplain zones indicates limited overall exposure.

Lifeline facilities were identified in flood-prone areas, including 6 in the 100-year floodplain, 7 in the 500-year floodplain, and 3 in floodplain awareness zones. Additionally, 2 Safety and Security facilities are located within the 500-year floodplain.

3.8.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the 100- and 500-year floodplains is presented in TABLE 4, with exposure to flood awareness zones detailed in TABLE 5. Across all flood hazard areas, residential structures make up the majority of exposed buildings.

Table 4 Willits Parcels in the 100-Year and 500-Year Floodplain Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 39 $8,426,776 $16,653,705
Industrial 35 $6,104,505 $11,300,552
Institutional 6 $868,369 $2,897,401
Miscellaneous 14 $108,924 $0
Residential 141 $8,246,138 $26,953,261
Rural 15 $387,039 $479,544
No Data 21 $333,052 $160,862
100-Year
Floodplain Total 271 $24,474,803 $58,445,325
Commercial 44 $8,320,456 $14,024,326
Industrial 34 $5,803,291 $10,680,043
Institutional 8 $982,864 $4,062,284
Miscellaneous 14 $108,527 $0

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Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Residential 254 $16,052,972 $46,147,122
Rural 15 $387,039 $479,544
No Data 31 $717,950 $945,661
500-Year
Floodplain Total 400 $32,373,099 $76,338,980
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department Table 5 Willits Parcels in Floodplain Awareness Zones
Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 19 $6,013,880 $9,559,375
Industrial 13 $3,493,511 $5,401,420
Institutional 2 $189,866 $1,476,794
Miscellaneous 5 $18,314 $0
Residential 61 $6,570,968 $15,972,041
Rural 8 $1,021,966 $649,397
No Data 12 $308,128 $156,219
Total 120 $17,616,633 $33,215,246
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.9 Mass Movements: Landslide, Rock Falls, & Debris Flows

3.9.1 Past Events
Numerous landslide incidents have been documented throughout Mendocino County, with several resulting in official disaster declarations for the region. For details on these events, see Section 4.12 Mass Earth Movements: Landslides, Rock Falls, & Debris Flows of the Base Plan.

More specific to the City of Willits, a small landslide occurred in December 2016 near the southbound on‑ramp at the south end of the Willits Highway 101 bypass. The slide involved unstable soils on the hillside above the roadway and has been monitored by Caltrans as an ongoing issue.
7 3.9.2 Location
The City of Willits Safety Element identifies landslide hazard zones around the city, particularly in the southern and western hillside areas, indicating the potential for landslides and slope 7 SMALL SLIDE AT SOUTH END OF WILLITS BYPASS • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA

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instability during heavy rain or seismic events. The Steering Committee also noted that the Brooktrails area is frequently impacted by these hazard events. These risk areas are shown in FIGURE 7 below.

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Figure 7 Landslide Risk Areas in the City of Willits

3.9.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability

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The Steering Committee noted that there are continual issues with landslides and road slumping in Brooktrails, which could impact around 3,500 residents and numerous others accessing the area. People with limited mobility, limited transportation, or limited access to emergency information may be more affected.

3.9.3.1 Community Lifelines
The community lifeline analysis found that only two facilities are located within high to very high landslide risk areas: one Safety & Security facility and one Food, Hydration, and Shelter facility. This indicates limited overall exposure of critical infrastructure to landslide hazards. No debris flow or rockfall hazard areas have been mapped within the city boundaries.

3.9.3.2 Parcels
The parcel analysis for the City of Willits is summarized below in TABLE 6. Residential structures make up the largest category of buildings exposed to high to very high landslide risk areas.

Table 6 Willits Parcels Exposed to Landslides (High-Very High Risk Areas) Use Type Parcel Count Land Value Improved Value
Commercial 39 $10,361,934 $19,138,726
Industrial 19 $4,790,835 $4,840,548
Institutional 9 $308,914 $3,481,687
Miscellaneous 11 $113,901 $0
Residential 403 $29,714,877 $61,841,087
Rural 22 $2,841,146 $1,398,894
No Data 47 $760,941 $1,385,154
Total 550 $48,892,548 $92,086,096
Source: The County of Mendocino Assessor’s Office and GIS Department

3.10 Severe Storms

3.10.1 Past Events
The following records are noted in the NCEI Storm Events database as severe storm events directly impacting the City of Willits or the vicinity of Willits. None of these events have records of casualties.
• April 30, 1998 - Sustained winds ranged from 25 to 35 mph, with gusts reaching up to 51 mph just five miles southwest of Willits.
• September 21, 2022 - A mid to upper-level low-pressure system drifted south and settled off the north-central California coast. On the 18th, widespread rain fell, including periods of heavier rainfall. Over the next few days, scattered showers and isolated

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City of Willits Jurisdictional Annex
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 33
thunderstorms developed. One particularly intense shower dropped more than 2.5 inches of rain in 45 minutes near Willits, causing flooding on the Willits Bypass and bringing traffic to a halt; water receded quickly after the storm passed. Multiple Special Weather Statements (SPSs) and Flood Advisories (FLAs) were issued during these days in response to stronger thunderstorms and heavy rain.

December 19, 2022 - Late December brought a multi-day atmospheric river event to Northwest California, delivered by deep-layer westerly flow along a stationary frontal boundary positioned zonally. Heavy rain and strong winds impacted the region widely.

Rain triggered a rockslide onto HWY 101 between Willits and Redwood Valley, leaving rocks covering half of the highway's lanes.

March 1, 2024 - A significant trough caused hail showers and substantial snowfall across Northwest California. Several feet of snow accumulated in mountainous areas, while hail led to many traffic incidents along the coastline. Wind damage knocked out power for 220 customers four miles north-northwest of Willits. The public reported a tree falling onto a car roughly four miles NNW of Willits.

March 3, 2024 - Another deep trough brought more widespread hail showers and heavy mountain snow to the region. Numerous traffic accidents were reported on the coast due to hail, and law enforcement noted trees and rocks strewn across the roadway eight miles west-southwest of Willits.

3.10.2 Location
The entire City of Willits is at risk of severe storm events.

3.10.3 Local Exposure and Vulnerability
The Willits Steering Committee developed the following problem statements, which identify local vulnerability to severe storm events.
• The city’s wastewater treatment facility is susceptible to flooding during heavy rain events.
• City buildings and roads are impacted by localized flooding, including pooling of water after heavy rain events.
• Heavy rain events lead to natural drainage channels becoming choked with debris and gravel, which reduces their ability to convey stormwater downstream and leads to localized flooding on city roads and private property.
• Strong winds can blow over trees and utility lines, posing a threat to traffic and pedestrians and leading to power outages.
• Older adults, medically dependent residents, people with disabilities, mobile home residents, and households without backup power or reliable transportation may be more vulnerable.

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City of Willits Jurisdictional Annex
Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 34

3.11 Wildfire

3.11.1 Past Events
Several wildfire events have impacted areas in or near the City of Willits since the previous HMP update. Narratives describing these significant events are provided below. In addition, wildfire incidents reported by the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) are shown in FIGURE 8. • September 2020: Oak Fire - A significant wildfire ignited north of Brooktrails (near Willits), burning approximately 1,100 acres, destroying 56 structures, and prompting mandatory evacuations of over 3,200 residents in the Brooktrails/Willits area. The fire crossed U.S. Highway 101, leading to school closures and poor air quality in Willits.8 During one of the days, the wildfire smoke blocked out the sun for a few hours. • September 2022: Walker Fire - A wildfire burned south of Willits near Highway 101 and Walker Road, growing to around 124 acres. Evacuation warnings were issued for nearby subdivisions, including Pine Mountain and Ridgewood Road, but large-scale damage in the city was avoided.9
• August 2023: Golden Fire - A smaller wildfire ignited along Highway 101 south of Willits near Mill Creek, burning just over 11 acres before containment. No major damage or evacuations were reported, though traffic was temporarily affected.10 • July 2023: Ryan Fire - A wildfire started north of Willits near Ryan Creek Road, prompting fire response efforts that included aerial retardant drops and ground crews to slow its spread.11
• July 2024: Riley Fire - The Riley Fire burned near Camp Noyo, on the border between Fort Bragg and Willits, covering about 17.5 acres. Fire crews contained the fire without major structural damage.12
• July 2024: Rios Fire - A small wildfire near Highway 162 south of Dos Rios (near Willits) remained limited in size and did not develop into a larger incident. 8 OAK FIRE REMAINS AT 1100 ACRES, NOW 50% CONTAINED — FIVE LARGE STRUCTURES DESTROYED, 20 MINOR STRUCTURES — SEPT. 12 • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA
9 WALKER FIRE REACHES 100% CONTAINMENT • THE MENDOCINO VOICE | MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA 10 "GOLDEN FIRE" AT U.S. HWY 101 SOUTH OF WILLITS NOW 50% CONTAINED (UPDATED 8/28) • THE MENDOCINO VOICE |

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA
11 [UPDATE 7:26 P.M.] ‘RYAN’ FIRE IGNITES NORTH OF WILLITS - REDHEADED BLACKBELT 12 RILEY FIRE MORNING REPORT: WILDFIRE WEST OF WILLITS 60 PERCENT CONTAINED AT 17.5 ACRES • THE MENDOCINO VOICE |

MENDOCINO COUNTY, CA

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