Mendocino County Clarifies Emergency Plans and Seeks Public Input on Hazard Mitigation Plan Draft

The Mendocino County Office of Emergency Services recognizes that the multitude of emergency plans and acronyms used can sometimes be confusing. Each plan serves a distinct role in emergency management and helps Mendocino County prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Some address immediate response, others wildfire prevention, long-term risk reduction, access to grant funding, etc. With so many recently updated and in-process plans, this release clarifies the purpose of each and how they affect residents.

Key Emergency Plans and What They Mean for You

• Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan – Draft Out for Public Review
  A long-term plan to reduce future disaster impacts and improve community resilience across multiple hazards, rather than a plan for immediate emergency response. Residents can review and comment on the draft plan through April 20, 2026, at: https://mendoready.org/mendocino-county-hazard-mitigation-plan-2026-update/
• Flood Response Plan – In Early Development

Will provide guidance for flood preparedness, evacuation planning, and interagency coordination. A draft is anticipated in spring 2027.

• Emergency Operations Plan – Adopted August 2025 The County’s primary framework for responding to all emergencies, including wildfires, floods, and earthquakes. It details how agencies coordinate, share information, and manage response efforts.
• Community Wildfire Protection Plan – Adopted May 2025

Focused on reducing wildfire risk. Identifies high-risk areas and prioritizes projects such as defensible space, vegetation management, and fire prevention.

Which Plan Matters to You?

• Wildfire-prone area → Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• Storms, rivers, flooding → Flood Response Plan
• Emergency management overview → Emergency Operations Plan
• Long-term risk reduction → Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
• To access all these plans and more emergency information, preparedness tips, alerts, and real-time updates, visit Mendoready.org  

 Click HERE to download Press Release.