THINGS UP UNTIL 2:00 THIS AFTERNOON. SACRAMENTO COUNTY IS GETTING READY TO UPDATE ITS PLAYBOOK FOR SEVERE WEATHER. EVERY FIVE YEARS, THE COUNTY HAS TO UPDATE ITS LOCAL HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN. KCRA 3’S LETICIA ORDAZ HAS THE DETAILS ON HOW THE PUBLIC CAN WEIGH IN TODAY. OFFICIALS SAY THIS PLAN IS CRITICAL BECAUSE IT HELPS THEM PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES LIKE FLOODING, DROUGHTS AND OTHER WEATHER RELATED DISASTERS THIS WINTER. AND TAKE A LOOK. IT WAS JUST TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE COUNTY EXPERIENCED DEVASTATING FLOODING IN JANUARY. THERE WAS FLOODING, RESCUES AND EVEN DEATHS IN THE TOWN OF WILTON. THE GOAL IS TO STRENGTHEN INFRASTRUCTURE AND LEVEES TO PREVENT BREACHES THAT CAN WIPE OUT PROPERTY AND PUT LIVES IN DANGER. TODAY, THE COUNTY WILL HOLD A SERIES OF COMMUNITY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS THE NEW PLAN AND DURING THE LAST PROCESS, MORE THAN 400 PEOPLE TOOK PART AND GAVE THEIR OPINIONS. THERE WILL BE TWO MEETINGS AT THE COLOMA COMMUNITY CENTER ON T STREET. THE FIRST MEETING TODAY IS HAPPENING AT 1:00 THIS AFTERNOON, AND THE OTHER MEETING WILL TAKE PLACE AT 530 THIS EVENING. THE COUNTY SAYS HAVING A PLAN LIKE THIS IS ALSO CRITICAL BECAUSE IT LOWERS EVERYBODY’S FLOOD INSURANCE IN SACRAMENTO COUNTY IN SACRAMENTO, LETICIA ORDAZ KCRA THREE NEWS AGENCIES SAY WORKING TOGETHER WILL ALLOW THEM TO APPLY FOR DISASTER MITIGATION GRANT FUNDING TO HEL
Sacramento County asks public to help update severe weather “playbook”
Updated: 2:33 PM PST Dec 3, 2025
Sacramento County is inviting residents to help shape a new plan for how the region prepares for and responds to floods, drought and other severe weather.The plan is underscored by the January 2023 storms that led to devastating flooding, water rescues and deaths in the Wilton area.Every five years, the county is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan acts as a guide for reducing disaster losses from natural hazards like floods, levee failures, drought, wildfire and severe storms, and it also helps speed recovery after disaster strikes.County leaders said the updated 2026 plan will focus on strengthening levees and other critical infrastructure, protecting homes and businesses, and making the region more resilient to future disasters. Sacramento County has already had millions of dollars in damage from past storms, and officials say having a strong mitigation plan in place helps break the costly cycle of damage and rebuilding.A FEMA-approved plan allows the county, cities and special districts to apply for pre- and post-disaster mitigation grants and can lower the cost of flood insurance for residents through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and its Community Rating System.To kick off the latest update, Sacramento County and its partner cities are holding two meetings on Wednesday at the Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St. in Sacramento:A Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee kickoff meeting from 1 to 4 p.m.A public kickoff meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.More information about the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update, including future meetings, can be found on Sacramento County’s Storm Ready website here. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. —
Sacramento County is inviting residents to help shape a new plan for how the region prepares for and responds to floods, drought and other severe weather.
The plan is underscored by the January 2023 storms that led to devastating flooding, water rescues and deaths in the Wilton area.
Every five years, the county is required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to update its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan. The plan acts as a guide for reducing disaster losses from natural hazards like floods, levee failures, drought, wildfire and severe storms, and it also helps speed recovery after disaster strikes.
County leaders said the updated 2026 plan will focus on strengthening levees and other critical infrastructure, protecting homes and businesses, and making the region more resilient to future disasters. Sacramento County has already had millions of dollars in damage from past storms, and officials say having a strong mitigation plan in place helps break the costly cycle of damage and rebuilding.
A FEMA-approved plan allows the county, cities and special districts to apply for pre- and post-disaster mitigation grants and can lower the cost of flood insurance for residents through FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program and its Community Rating System.
To kick off the latest update, Sacramento County and its partner cities are holding two meetings on Wednesday at the Coloma Community Center, 4623 T St. in Sacramento:
A Hazard Mitigation Planning Committee kickoff meeting from 1 to 4 p.m.A public kickoff meeting from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
More information about the Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update, including future meetings, can be found on Sacramento County’s Storm Ready website here.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel