Many natural hazards are currently and will continue to be exacerbated by changing climatic conditions. Southern California coastal communities are already vulnerable to coastal erosion and flooding brought on by storms, coastal processes and human pressures. The impacts from climate change such as sea level rise further exacerbate these issues.
Local governments are tasked with preparing their communities for natural disasters and identifying hazard mitigation strategies to reduce risk. As our scientific understanding of climate change has increased, local governments are also increasingly tasked with integrating climate change adaptation into local plans such as hazard mitigation plans.
USC Sea Grant worked with the City of Los Angeles on their 2018 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and is working with the City for their 2023 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan update. By participating as members of the plan update steering committee, USC Sea Grant ensures that climate change and coastal hazards are integrated in the City’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan and connects the City to the best available scientific information.
