Coconino County’s Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP) is central to our region’s long-term strategy to reduce the impacts of natural, climate-related, and human-caused events on residents, the economy, and the environment. The plan provides a coordinated framework for identifying local risks, prioritizing mitigation actions, and strengthening community resilience throughout the county, including the City of Flagstaff.

The MJHMP is updated every five years to reflect current data, emerging hazards, best practices, and the shared priorities of participating jurisdictions. The previous plan, approved by Federal Emergency Managerment Agency (FEMA) and adopted by the City of Flagstaff via Resolution No. 2021-55, remains valid for five years from its approval date. Since 2021, Coconino County and its municipal and tribal partners have worked together to evaluate progress on mitigation actions, incorporate lessons from recent incidents, and reassess vulnerabilities to hazards such as wildfires, post-fire flooding, severe weather, and infrastructure disruptions.

The 2026 plan update continues this joint countywide effort. City staff have participated by validating local data, reviewing hazard profiles, and assessing the status of previously adopted mitigation strategies. Public input has also been key to ensuring the updated plan reflects the needs and priorities of the communities it serves. Maintaining a current FEMA approved hazard mitigation plan is essential. It guides local decision-making, supports long-term risk reduction, and preserves eligibility for critical state and federal hazard mitigation and disaster recovery funding. Adopting the updated 2026 MJHMP will enable the City of Flagstaff to pursue future mitigation grants, advance resilience projects, and continue building a safer, better-prepared Flagstaff.

This process is unique due to turbulence at the federal level involving the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Normally, the MJHMP is submitted in draft form to the AZ Department of Military Affairs (DEMA) for their review, which typically takes about 60 days, and then submitted to FEMA. FEMA can take two courses of action: request changes to the document, or approve it as is. By law, FEMA only has 45 days to review the plan. However, due to the ongoing funding crisis and the shutdown of FEMA operations for several weeks, FEMA faces an enormous backlog of plans to review.

FEMA has confirmed that jurisdictions may adopt their hazard mitigation plans prior to FEMA’s formal approval, a provision now strongly encouraged by both FEMA and DEMA to prevent any lapse in plan coverage. This flexibility is particularly important because the current MJHMP expires on July 21, 2026. Per recommendations from Department of Emergency and Military Affairs (DEMA) and FEMA, Coconino County Emergency Management (CCEM) strongly encourages all jurisdictions within Coconino County to adopt the plan as is before review can proceed. If a jurisdiction fails to adopt the MJHMP before the current one expires, it will no longer be covered under a valid hazard mitigation plan and will lose eligibility for federal dollars that require such a plan.

City of Flagstaff Emergency Management will return at the July 7th Council Meeting to seek adoption via resolution of the MJHMP to retain eligibility for federal funds.