Kootenai County completes in‑house hazard mitigation update; FEMA approval pending adoption

Tiffany Westbrook and Sarah Long of the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) told commissioners on Feb. 10 that OEM completed the county’s 2026 multi‑jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan update without using an outside consultant.

Westbrook said in‑house completion avoided consultant costs typically in the $80,000–$125,000 range for a jurisdiction Kootenai County’s size and that the process strengthened staff understanding of county preparedness. OEM reported collaboration with 33 planning partners — including cities, fire and EMS agencies, school districts, highway districts, and public‑health and healthcare partners — and said the update followed FEMA’s mitigation planning framework under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 and implementing guidance in 44 CFR.

OEM officials described extensive public and stakeholder engagement, multiple public meetings, and a countywide hazard mitigation survey that received more than 170 responses. They said the update was compiled into two volumes (a county‑wide strategy and hazard profile; and jurisdiction‑specific annexes), and that FEMA issued an ‘‘approval pending adoption’’ letter. Westbrook said that once the board adopts the plan, the county and participating jurisdictions will remain eligible to apply for FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for projects that reduce long‑term disaster risk.

Westbrook closed by saying the plan identifies a large set of initiatives and more than 160 high‑priority projects; OEM recommended the board adopt the plan at the business meeting later that day.

Next steps: OEM asked the board to consider formal adoption at the 2 p.m. business meeting so Kootenai County can retain eligibility for FEMA mitigation funding and begin integrating mitigation actions into local planning and project tracking.