Plans expire on a 5-year cycle

• Update, review, and approval of a mitigation plan every 5 years is required to maintain eligibility for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. Plan updates may also occur after a disaster event or alongside the development of a post-disaster recovery plan. The first plan adopted by your Tribe will establish a baseline on which future plans will be built. The updated plan includes any new development or redevelopment, progress in mitigation efforts, and changes in priorities. This ensures that the risks, capabilities, and mitigation activities remain effective based on the most current information available.

Review and revise your plan to stay current

• All aspects of the plan will need to be updated, including the planning process, the risk assessment, and the mitigation strategy, as well as each of their individual components. This update will need to account for changes in leadership, new hazards or disasters, progress towards actions, changes in development, and changes in regulations.

Lastly, when considering the schedule and process for a plan update, don’t forget to account for the time it will take to secure grant funding (if needed), contract for support services, and establish a reasonable, inclusive update process timeline. Also, keep in mind that plan review, adoption, and approval take time. (HB, p. 39)