A city (or county) is not an accident but the result of coherent visions and aims

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disruption and expedite recovery following disasters. Since virtually all incidents disproportionately affect individuals with access 
and functional needs (AFN) (i.e. people with disabilities, seniors, children, limited English proficiency, and transportation 
disadvantaged). All policies should include consideration of AFN
 populations
. 
Climate change will affect and potentially exacerbate the impact of other hazards rather than being solely a distinct hazard with 
unique impacts. For example, extreme heat and heat waves are existing hazards that will be exacerbated by climate change. The 
impacts of climate change on the frequency, timing, and magnitude of flooding vary by geography throughout the state. Areas 
that experience early run off from snow melt coupled with intensified rain or coastal areas experiencing sea level rise may be 
more greatly impacted by flooding. Hazards that have the potential to be affected by climate change are further outlined in this 
element and linked resources described below.
Assembly Bill 2140
The federal 
Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (42 U.S.C. § 5121 et seq.)
, outlines how a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) can 
be developed individually or through a multi-jurisdictional LHMP. The successful completion of an LHMP makes the jurisdiction 
eligible to apply for federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) post-disaster funding, Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) 
funding or Flood Management Assistance (FMA) funding. See reference in the 
44 CFR, Section 201.6(a) and 201.6(a)(2)
At the state level, 
AB 2140
 authorizes local governments to adopt their LHMPs with the safety elements of their general plans 
(
Gov. Code § 65302.6
). Integration or incorporation by reference is encouraged through a post-disaster financial incentive that 
authorizes the state to use available California Disaster Assistance Act funds to cover local shares of the 25% non-federal portion 
of grant-funded post-disaster projects when approved by the legislature (
Gov. Code § 8685.9
).
AB 2140
 is one of the most important links between general plans and hazard mitigation in California. Adopting the LHMP with 
the safety element provides a vehicle for implementation of the LHMP. This integration allows hazard mitigation strategies to be 
implemented and local hazard awareness to be upgraded and enhanced. An LHMP must document what existing plans, studies, 
Climate Change 
An increasingly important factor affecting disaster management functions is climate change. Climate change reflects new 
uncertainties and factors shaping and conditioning hazard mitigation planning. 
Chapter 4.5 in the 2013 California State Hazard 
Mitigation Plan (SHMP)
 addresses a specific approach for local communities to evaluate their risk as a result of climate change. 
The safety element of the general plan plays an important role in ensuring consistency with the 
Local Hazard Mitigation Plan 
(LHMP)
 and the SHMP. The general plan and LHMP both provide a local vehicle for implementation of the SHMP, including the 
provisions dealing with climate change. The SHMP outlines tools, resources, and a process for addressing climate change at the 
local level. The resources the SHMP and LHMP guidance materials reference are the same materials referenced in 
Chapter 8 of 
the General Plan Guidelines
, Climate Change. This provides for consistency across multiple documents such as an adaptation 
plan, climate action plan, general plan, implementation plan, local hazard mitigation plan, etc. 

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reports, and technical information were reviewed during the formation of the plan, as well as if and how any of that information 
was incorporated into the final product (
44 CFR, Section 201.6(b)(3)
).
Completeness Checklist
Local agency staff can use the following checklist to help ensure that the safety element addresses all required issues. Please 
note that use of this checklist is purely advisory, and only contains issues that are legally required by 
Government Code section 
65302(g)
. Safety elements may address additional issues at the discretion of the local government. Because general plan formats 
may vary, this checklist suggests identifying where the particular government code provision is satisfied.
Statutory Citation
Brief Description of Requirement
Gov. Code § 65302(g)(1)
Identification of unreasonable risks and policies for the protection of the community from such risks.
Gov. Code § 65302(g)(1)
Slope Instability
Slope instability leading to mudslides and landslides.
Gov. Code § 65302(g)(1)
Seismic risks, including:
Seismically induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure, tsunami, seiche, and dam failure; subsid-
ence, liquefaction, and other seismic hazards identified pursuant to Chapter 7.8 (commencing with Section 
2690) of Division 2 of the Public Resources Code, and other geologic hazards known to the legislative body
     • Mapping of known seismic and other geologic hazards. 
     • Address 
          o Evacuation routes
          o Military installations
          o Peakload water supply requirements, and 
          o Minimum road widths and clearances around structures
Gov. Code § 65302(g)(2)
Flooding
Identify
     • Flood Hazard Zones
     • FEMA Flood Insurance Maps
     • Army Corps of Engineer Flood information
     • Flood maps from the Central Valley Flood Protection Board
     • Dam Failure Maps (Office of Emergency Services)
     • DWR Floodplain Maps
     • Maps of Levee Protection Zones
     • Areas subject to inundation in the event of the failure of levees and floodwalls
     • Historic flood information
     • Existing and planned development in flood hazard areas
     • Agencies with responsibility for flood protection
Mandatory Goals, Policies, and Objectives
     • Avoid and minimize flood risks for new development.
     • Should new development be located in flood hazard zones?  If so, what are appropriate mitigation 
        measures?
     • Maintain the integrity of essential public facilities.
     • Locate, when feasible, new essential public facilities outside of flood hazard zones, including hospitals and
        health care facilities, emergency shelters, fire stations, emergency command centers, and emergency 
        communications facilities, or identifying mitigation measures.
     • Establishing cooperative working relationships among public agencies with responsibility for flood 
        protection.
Feasible Mitigation Measures, to implement the policies above.   

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