Eugene and Springfield Multi-Jurisdiction Natural Hazard mitigation Plan

The cities of Eugene and Springfield, Oregon have updated the Multi-jurisdictional Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP) to address earthquakes, flood, landslides, volcanic or seismic activity, wildfire, and winter storms. Climate change is discussed throughout the plan as it expands these impacts and affects many of the plan’s focal sectors - especially natural systems and water resources. 

With support from the Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience, Eugene and Springfield collaborated on a climate and hazards vulnerability assessment that was used to update this NHMP. Complete findings from the assessment can be found in Section 4: Risk and Vulnerability. The assessment reflects vulnerabilities to earthquakes, flood, wildfire, winter storm, climate change, and rising fuel prices.

This resource was featured in the March 25, 2016, ASAP Newsletter.

"The cities of Eugene and Springfield, Oregon, updated their Multi-jurisdictional Emergency Operations Plan to include climate change as a hazard. This joint, all-hazards plan update includes risk-reduction goals and resources, as determined through a Eugene-Springfield Climate and Hazards Vulnerability Assessment. The work to assess and update the 2014 Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan to include climate change was funded by the FEMA Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program."

The report includes sector based summaries with high-level information including sector descriptions, an assessment of adaptive capacity, critical vulnerabilities, hazard-specific sensitivities and key sector interdependencies. Climate change appears to have the greatest overall negative impact on regional forest and water resources, along with drinking water supply, and to a lesser extent, food, electricity and public health. The analysis projects that the high sensitivity of the region’s natural systems to climate change and the resulting secondary impacts on community sectors and the regional economy could be substantial.

Based on the existing NHMP and the findings from the Eugene-Springfield Climate and Hazards Vulnerability Assessment, emergency management staff and a broad group of regional partners developed mitigation strategies. The strategies that are most aligned with climate change adaptation measures are in response to the projected flooding hazard for the region - including:

  • Flood Maps: Actively seek FEMA updates to the Eugene-Springfield floodplain maps.
  • Flood Control Levee Certification and Maintenance: Seek and maintain certification of levees and other flood control structures within Eugene and Springfield. 
  • Flood Insurance Study: Continue to support FEMA in updating the flood insurance study in selected areas, including Amazon and Cedar Creeks and the McKenzie River. 
  • Repetitive Loss Records: Ensure that the accurate locations of repetitive loss properties have been registered with FEMA.
  • Explore Flood Mitigation Actions with Property Owners: Provide flood risk literature for outreach. Send an annual mailer to residents living within the 100 year floodplain describing actions property owners can take to protect themselves from flooding.
  • Maintain Frequent Stormwater Flooding Location Inventory: Maintain inventory of locations in the Eugene-Springfield Metro area subject to frequent urban stormwater (not riverine) flooding.
  • Upgrade Culverts: For locations with repetitive flooding and significant damages or road closures, determine and implement mitigation measures such as upsizing culverts or storm water drainage ditches.
  • NFIP compliance: Continue compliance with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) through enforcement of local floodplain ordinances. 

Publication Date: November 2016

Related Organizations:

  • City of Eugene, Oregon
  • City of Springfield, Oregon

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Resource Types:

  • Plans (other)

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