Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan

About the Hazard Mitigation Plan

The Hazard Mitigation Plan guides the actions Frederick County will take to reduce risk from disasters over the next five years and beyond. It is meant to work with new and existing plans, building and zoning regulations, and environmental projects. The Plan allows the county to be better prepared and more able to quickly resume normal operations after a disaster by identifying projects that will reduce impacts from hazards. Frederick County has faced hurricanes, damaging winds, flooding, tornadoes and many other hazards. If damage can be prevented before it occurs, lives can be saved and recovery costs reduced.

The Hazard Mitigation Plan also allows the county to receive funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reduce our community’s vulnerability to disasters. This funding is very important in helping the county continue to grow and develop safely.

Check out the Frederick County Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan Story Map to learn more about hazard mitigation!

Updating the Plan 

Every five years, Frederick County updates the Hazard Mitigation Plan.

The latest update was completed and adopted in 2022. 

The Plan is available for download: 2022 Frederick County Hazard Mitigation and Climate Adaptation Plan.



  1. What is Hazard Mitigation?
  2. Planning Process
  3. Participating Agencies
  4. Get Involved
  5. Resources

Hazard mitigation is any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from hazards, such as flooding, winter storms, or dam failures. Disasters can cause loss of life, damage to buildings and infrastructure, as well as have long-lasting impacts on a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. To help prevent this, mitigation actions are taken, such as public education and outreach programs, elevating buildings above potential floodwaters, or strengthening building codes to make sure new buildings can withstand hurricane-force winds.

Hazard mitigation encourages building in a way that prevents the damage from occurring in the first place. Proactive mitigation planning is an important component of overall development planning. 

Frederick County is focuses on hazard mitigation planning to reduce risk and create a safer, more disaster-resilient community.