Puerto Rico Local Hazard Mitigation Planning

For an island repeatedly battered by hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, recovery alone wasn’t enough. Puerto Rico needed a proactive strategy that would allow it to withstand future disasters. Updating the LHMPs was not only about compliance, but it was also about creating a comprehensive, actionable roadmap to safeguard communities, critical infrastructure and natural resources. The PRPB needed a partner capable of both technical expertise and community engagement to make this vision a reality.

Our team took on the monumental task of updating the LHMPs and conducting a thorough, island-wide risk assessment. By evaluating the vulnerabilities of critical facilities, assessing social and environmental risks and analyzing potential future hazards. We provided each municipality with tailored strategies to mitigate disaster risks. These actions went beyond simple fixes; they were forward-thinking solutions aimed at protecting lives, infrastructure and the natural environment.

In addition, we supported municipalities in identifying funding to implement their mitigation actions, ensuring that plans could be translated into real-world improvements. Whether the improvements were to reinforce critical infrastructure, improve drainage systems, or build sustainable energy projects like microgrids and solar installations, we made sure each municipality had plans to be better prepared and more resilient for what the future could bring along their path.

Key Achievements

Island-Wide Risk Assessment: Our team conducted comprehensive analyses of loss estimates, vulnerabilities of critical facilities and assets, social vulnerability and natural resource vulnerabilities for each identified hazard. We evaluated both past and current events and future hazard probabilities to offer a well-rounded, data-driven plan.

Municipal Mitigation Actions: Each municipality’s mitigation plan includes tailored strategies across five key areas: prevention, structural projects, natural resource protection, emergency services and public awareness. These plans focus on addressing the unique needs of each community, from protecting coastal areas against erosion and flooding, to enhancing emergency operations capabilities.
Sustainable Development: A significant part of the strategy involved identifying and implementing sustainable energy projects, such as microgrids and solar panels, to improve energy resilience and reduce future vulnerabilities.

Community Engagement: Through ongoing committee meetings, we brought local leaders and stakeholders to the table, ensuring their input was incorporated into each plan. By engaging these communities directly, we fostered a sense of ownership, empowering municipalities to actively shape their mitigation strategies.

Why It Matters

This effort is more than just disaster preparation, it's about building a stronger, more resilient Puerto Rico. By helping municipalities develop customized mitigation plans, secure funding, and implement sustainable projects, we’re ensuring that future disasters will have less severe consequences on lives and infrastructure. From projects to equip safe rooms to upgrading emergency operations centers, our work is helping in making Puerto Rico’s communities safer, stronger and more prepared.

A Sustainable Future

The updated LHMPs are not only creating more resilient infrastructure, but also promoting sustainable development practices across the island. By integrating energy-efficient projects and emphasizing the protection of natural resources, Puerto Rico is on a path toward a future where resilience and sustainability go hand-in-hand.

In partnership with PRPB, we’re shaping a future for Puerto Rico where communities are less vulnerable to natural hazards, better equipped to respond to emergencies and more focused on sustainable growth. This project is a testament to the power of proactive planning in disaster-prone areas and showcases our dedication to making a lasting impact on the island’s recovery and long-term resilience.