April 23, 2025 | From City of New Orleans
City of New Orleans Launches Update of Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Invited to Attend Community Meeting today to Help Shape the City’s Risk Reduction Strategy
NEW ORLEANS — The City of New Orleans is hosting a public meeting today, April 23, to gather input for the update of its Hazard Mitigation Action Plan (HMAP), a critical roadmap for reducing risk and building resilience against future disasters.
The meeting will take place from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Nora Navra Library, 1902 St. Bernard Avenue. Residents are encouraged to attend and provide feedback on the types of hazards that impact their communities and ideas for how the City can better prepare for and reduce those risks.
The Hazard Mitigation Action Plan is required by FEMA for the City to remain eligible for federal pre- and post-disaster funding, including programs that support home elevations, infrastructure improvements, and flood risk reduction. The last update to the plan was completed in 2020. This new update will build on past efforts and community priorities to identify strategies that address both chronic and sudden risks.
Led by the City’s Hazard Mitigation Office, the HMAP update is being conducted in partnership with the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans (SWBNO), the Housing Authority of New Orleans (HANO), the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority (NORA), Tulane University, and Loyola University. This collaborative effort aims to strengthen the City’s ability to proactively plan for hurricanes, flooding, extreme heat, and other hazards made worse by climate change.
“Hazard mitigation is our first line of defense in reducing long-term risk to people, property, and critical infrastructure,” said Austin Feldbaum, Hazard Mitigation Administrator. “A robust, community-informed plan ensures that we are not just reacting to disasters but preparing for them in ways that reflect the experiences and needs of our residents.”
Mitigation planning is most effective when it reflects the real-world conditions and priorities of the people it’s designed to protect. Public input helps the City identify neighborhood-specific risks, assess the effectiveness of current strategies, and develop new actions to improve safety, equity, and resilience citywide.
This meeting is the first in a series of public meetings that will be held throughout the summer to ensure inclusive community participation. Residents are also encouraged to complete the City’s Hazard Mitigation Survey, available at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NOLAHMAP. The survey will remain open until August 23, giving residents ample time to share their experiences and suggestions. For more information about the plan and ways to get involved, visit https://ready.nola.gov/hazard-mitigation/home/.