Adaptation & Mitigation

Santa Cruz County is committed to building resilience through proactive adaptation and mitigation strategies that reduce risks from natural hazards and climate-related threats.

What is Mitigation?

Mitigation refers to actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risks to people and property from natural hazards such as wildfires, floods, earthquake and sea-level rise. By implementing proactive mitigation strategies, we can enhance community safety, protect infrastructure, and improve disaster recovery efforts.

2025 Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP)

In 2025, Santa Cruz County worked with 9 local jurisdictions to develop a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (MJHMP). The MJHMP identifies key risks from natural hazards and prioritizes mitigation strategies to reduce risk. Adopted by the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors and approved by CalOES and FEMA as of May 2026, the plan also ensures continued eligibility for federal mitigation grant funding. This work was funded by FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) and will be monitored, evaluated, and updated every five years. 

Use the Santa Cruz Hazard Mitigation Action Explorer to browse strategies by hazard and jurisdiction, or read the countywide plan and annexes in greater detail using the links below.

• FEMA Approval Letters
• Read the Executive Summary
• Volume 1: County-Wide Elements
• Volume 2: Jurisdiction-Specific Annexes
  • City of Capitola
  • City of Scotts Valley
  • City of Watsonville
  • Soquel Creek Water District
  • Scotts Valley Water District
  • Pajaro Valley Water Management Agency
  • Resource Conservation District of Santa Cruz County
  • Santa Cruz Port District
  • Cabrillo College

Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment (CAVA)

The Climate Adaptation Vulnerability Assessment (CAVA) evaluates transportation infrastructure vulnerabilities due to climate-related hazards and prioritizes resilience actions. The interactive CAVA prioritization tool allows users to explore and analyze risks affecting key transportation assets. The final CAVA report will be presented to the Regional Transportation Commission in February 2025.

• Access the interactive CAVA prioritization score viewer
• Read the Final Report (February 2025)

Mitigation at Home

Residents can take steps to mitigate hazards at home by preparing for wildfires, flooding, and earthquakes. Simple actions such as defensible space around homes, securing structures against seismic activity, and proper drainage systems can significantly reduce risks. Of course, the basis for your home mitigation plan starts with preparedness – don’t wait, make a plan, sign up for alerts, and build an emergency kit today: Explore these resources for more hazard-specific information.