Municipal Services
Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMP)
Risk Management Professionals partners with cities, counties, special districts, water agencies, harbor districts, and other public agencies throughout California to develop comprehensive, FEMA-approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (LHMPs). Our planning approach goes beyond regulatory compliance by creating practical, actionable plans that help communities better understand their risks, prioritize mitigation investments, and improve resilience to future disasters.
A FEMA-approved LHMP is essential for reducing disaster risk and maintaining eligibility for many federal mitigation funding opportunities. Our experienced team guides clients through every phase of the planning process, ensuring compliance with FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide and applicable California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) requirements while tailoring each plan to the unique needs, hazards, and priorities of the community.
We emphasize collaboration throughout the planning process by working closely with Hazard Mitigation Planning Committees (HMPCs), elected officials, department representatives, partner agencies, critical infrastructure operators, and community stakeholders. Through workshops, public outreach, and interdepartmental coordination, we develop mitigation strategies that are technically feasible, broadly supported, and realistic to implement.
Our LHMP Services Include:
- Complete FEMA-compliant Local Hazard Mitigation Plan development and five-year updates
- Hazard identification and comprehensive risk assessments
- Analysis of natural, technological, and human-caused hazards
- GIS-based hazard mapping and vulnerability analysis
- Critical facilities and infrastructure inventories
- Assessment of community assets and vulnerable populations
- Climate adaptation and future risk considerations
- Capability assessments evaluating existing programs, policies, and resources
- Development and prioritization of mitigation actions
- Public outreach, stakeholder engagement, and community surveys
- Facilitation of Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee meetings and workshops
- Coordination with neighboring jurisdictions and partner agencies
- Benefit-Cost Analysis (BCA) support for mitigation projects
- FEMA and Cal OES review coordination through final approval and plan adoption
Our team has extensive experience evaluating a wide range of hazards, including, but not limited to, earthquakes, flooding, wildfire, drought, extreme heat, severe weather, dam and levee failure, hazardous materials incidents, power outages, transportation accidents, cyber threats, public health emergencies, and other hazards specific to each jurisdiction.
From project kickoff through FEMA approval, Risk Management Professionals manages every aspect of the planning process, including project management, technical analyses, public engagement, document preparation, agency coordination, and regulatory review. Our goal is to deliver a plan that not only satisfies FEMA requirements but also serves as a valuable decision-making tool that supports long-term capital planning, emergency preparedness, and community resilience.
Emergency Operations Plan
Risk Management Professionals develops comprehensive Emergency Operations Plans (EOPs) that provide agencies with a structured framework for preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies. Our plans are designed to strengthen organizational readiness, clearly define roles and responsibilities, improve coordination among departments and partner agencies, and support effective decision-making during incidents of any size or complexity.
Each Emergency Operations Plan is tailored to the unique operations, hazards, resources, and organizational structure of the agency. We work closely with department representatives and key stakeholders to ensure the plan reflects existing capabilities while identifying opportunities to enhance emergency preparedness and operational resilience.
Our EOPs are developed in accordance with the principles of the National Incident Management System (NIMS), California’s Standardized Emergency Management System (SEMS), and FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101, providing agencies with plans that align with recognized federal and state emergency management best practices.
Our EOP Services Include:
- Comprehensive Emergency Operations Plan development and updates
- Base Plan development and maintenance
- Emergency Support Function (ESF) annexes
- Department-specific roles and responsibilities
- Incident management and organizational structure
- Emergency notification and communication procedures
- Resource management and mutual aid coordination
- Continuity of essential government and operational functions
- Evacuation, sheltering, and public information procedures
- Recovery and restoration planning
- Plan review, facilitation, and stakeholder coordination
Hazardous Materials Area Plan (HMAP)
California Health and Safety Code (HSC) Section 25503(c) requires local agencies administering the provisions of HSC Chapter 6.95 to prepare a Hazardous Materials Area Plan for responses to hazardous materials releases within their jurisdiction. Certified Unified Program Agencies (CUPAs) are required to complete and maintain a comprehensive Hazardous Materials Area Plan. In addition, administering agencies must certify that the Area Plan has been reviewed and, if necessary, revised every three years.
The primary purpose of the Hazardous Materials Area Plan is to assist agencies and businesses in developing their hazardous materials pre-emergency planning activities and emergency response roles by functioning as a response planning and guidance resource. The Area Plan describes the emergency organization, assigns tasks, specifies policy and general procedures, and provides coordination between business and local responders for all phases of emergency planning for a hazardous materials incident or emergency.
Risk Management Professionals develops high quality Hazardous Materials Area Plans that are compiled in a user-friendly format, and that includes a detailed Risk Assessment (with GIS profiles of associated hazards), Response Protocols, Contact Information (Local Contacts, OES, HazMat Contractors, etc.) and incident recovery. Paper copies of the Area Plan are provided to the client in addition to the electronic files, which eases the maintenance and implementation of current information while performing a Plan update.
Additionally, Risk Management Professionals has significant experience developing Hazardous Materials Emergency Planning (HMEP) Grant applications for the development of Area Plans. The HMEP Grants Program provides technical and financial assistance to states, territories, and Indian tribes and their subdivisions to prepare and train for hazardous materials incidents.
Risk and Resilience Assessments/ Emergency Response Plan Updates
Risk Management Professionals assists drinking water and wastewater utilities with the development and update of Risk and Resilience Assessments (RRAs) and Emergency Response Plans (ERPs) in accordance with the requirements of the America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) guidance. Our team works closely with utility personnel to evaluate risks, identify vulnerabilities, and develop practical strategies that strengthen system resilience while ensuring regulatory compliance.
We recognize that today’s water and wastewater systems face an increasingly diverse range of threats, including natural disasters, aging infrastructure, cybersecurity incidents, physical security concerns, equipment failures, and operational disruptions. Our assessments take a comprehensive approach to evaluating these risks, helping utilities better understand potential impacts to critical assets, operational continuity, public health, and customer service.
Working collaboratively with utility staff, we develop customized assessments that reflect each system’s unique infrastructure, operational practices, and emergency response capabilities. Our Emergency Response Plan updates build upon the findings of the Risk and Resilience Assessment by establishing clear procedures for responding to emergencies, maintaining essential services, coordinating with response partners, and supporting rapid system recovery.
Our RRA and ERP Services Include:
- Risk and Resilience Assessment development and updates
- Emergency Response Plan updates
- Critical asset identification and vulnerability assessments
- Physical security evaluations
- Cybersecurity risk assessments
- Evaluation of natural, technological, and human-caused hazards
- Operational and infrastructure resilience assessments
- Emergency response procedures and organizational responsibilities
- Continuity of operations and service restoration planning
- Regulatory compliance documentation and EPA certification support
Urban Water Management Planning/ Water Demand Assessments
The Urban Water Management Planning Act (California Water Code Section 10610) states that every urban water supplier that provides water to 3,000 or more customers, or that provides over 3,000 acre-feet of water annually, should make every effort to ensure the appropriate level of reliability in its water service sufficient to meet the needs of its various categories of customers during normal, dry, and multiple dry years. To meet these requirements, an effective Urban Water Management Plan (UWMP) is developed to meet the following objectives:
- Accomplish water supply planning over a 20-year period in 5-year increments
- Identify and quantify adequate water supplies, including recycled water, for existing and future demands, in normal, dry, and drought years
- Implement conservation and efficient use of urban water supplies
The Urban Water Management Planning Act also requires urban water suppliers to update their UWMP and submit a complete plan to the Department of Water Resources every five years. The UWMP is required in order for a water supplier to be eligible for Department of Water Resources administered State grants, loans and drought assistance. The UWMP Act requires urban water suppliers to report, describe, and evaluate water deliveries and uses, water supply sources, efficient water use, and demand management measures.
According to the requirements, the next significant UWMP update should be completed by July 1, 2016. The 2015 UWMP Guidebook, in its draft state, was released in November, 2015 and is scheduled for a final draft release in January, 2016.
The 2015 UWMP update will require implementation of new and revised regulations since the 2010 update. Below are a few of the most notable proposed changes to the 2015 UWMPs that are likely to impact your next update:
AB 2067 (Weber)
- Revised UWMP Due Date: July 1, 2016
- Demand Management Measures (DMMs)
- Based on recommendations made by the ITP (Independent Technical Panel), the 2015 UWMP update will be required to provide a narrative description addressing the nature and extent of each DMM implemented over the past five (5) years, from 2010 to 2015.
- Where, nature is a description of the DMM program and extent is the quantification of the implementation of the DMM.
- Number of DMM categories have been reduced from 14 to 7 for retailers and reduced to 4 for wholesalers.
For the entire list of DMMs, please refer to this link: 2010 vs. 2015 Demand Management Measures
SB 1420 (Wolk)
- Requires the UWMP to quantify and report on distribution system water loss over the most recent 12-month period.
- Authorizes water use projections to account for estimated water savings as a result of adopted codes, standards, and ordinances.
- Requires the plan, or amendments to the plan, to be submitted electronicallyto the DWR and include any standardized forms, tables, or displays specified by the DWR.
SB 1036 (Pavley)*
- Energy Intensity Estimation/Calculation
*Optional
Since 2005, Risk Management Professionals (RMP) has developed and coordinated numerous UWMPs, which have included water supply and demand projections and assessments of water supply reliability during normal, dry, and multiple-dry years. In addition, the plans have emphasized water conservation, monitored the implementation of DMMs, described planned water supply programs, investigated opportunities for utilizing recycled or desalinated water, and included extensive public participation and agency coordination.
RMP has evaluated and modeled the sufficiency of the sources utilized by the urban water suppliers (e.g., groundwater, wholesale) and worked extensively with local stakeholders to ensure the UWMPs were synchronized with regional and local plans.