Reducing Risk and Increasing Resilience

Flood Mitigation

Why Mitigate for Floods?

The frequency of flood events in Utah is clearly rising. Flood damage and costs associated with that damage are rising too. We need cost-effective actions and interventions in order to reduce costs to individuals and communities. The actions—which reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of damage to homes, properties, and structures—are collectively known as “mitigation”. Mitigation is an essential component of flood risk management.
Illustration of the Flood Risk Management Cycle
Cover of Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves, a report by the National Institute of Building Sciences

"For every dollar spent on riverine flood mitigation, Americans save an average of $6 in future flood damage costs."

Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves
by the National Institute of Building Sciences
Download Full Report

Utah's Mitigation Resources

The Utah Division of Emergency Management’s Mitigation & Recovery Team
helps Utah communities before and after flooding events.

See the State of Utah's Hazard Mitigation Plan
Utah Disaster Recovery Hub
debris fences in Cache County
Hazard Mitigation Assistance

Mitigation Best Practices

For Communities, Counties, and Tribal Lands
Planning is a key component of mitigation.
Learn About Mitigation Planning
Create a comprehensive mitigation plan.

Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide

Invest in public outreach and engagement.<

Flood Risk Communications Toolkit
Learn from other communities.
Mitigation Action Portfolio (FEMA)
For property owner mitigation information, explore our Flood Risk Information for Property Owners page!
Flood Risk Information for Property Owners

Reducing the Risk of Specific Flood and
Debris Flow Triggers in Utah

Green Ravine fire scar

Fire Scars

Wildfire scars greatly increase the chance of flash flooding in areas downstream from the scar. Even properties that were previously not in the floodplain may find themselves vulnerable to floods and debris flows.
Post-Wildfire website
mudflow alluvial fan in Santaquin

Alluvial Fans

Alluvial fans are common geological formations in Utah that create unpredictable flood paths and depths.
Alluvial Fan Mitigation

Resources for Community Flood Mitigation Assistance

[cs_element_section _id=”1″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”2″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”3″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”4″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”5″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”6″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”7″ ][cs_element_layout_row_2 _id=”8″ ][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”9″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”10″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”11″ ][cs_element_text _id=”12″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”13″ ][cs_element_image _id=”14″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][/cs_element_layout_row_2][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”15″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”16″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”17″ ][cs_element_image _id=”18″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”19″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”20″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”21″ ][cs_element_text _id=”22″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”23″ ][cs_element_text _id=”24″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”25″ ][cs_element_button _id=”26″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”27″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”28″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”29″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”30″ ][cs_element_text _id=”31″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”32″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”33″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”34″ ][cs_element_button _id=”35″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”36″ ][cs_element_button _id=”37″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”38″ ][cs_element_button _id=”39″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id=”40″ ][cs_element_layout_row _id=”41″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”42″ ][cs_element_headline _id=”43″ ][cs_element_gap _id=”44″ ][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id=”45″ ][cs_element_layout_column _id=”46″ ][cs_element_layout_row_2 _id=”47″ ][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”48″ ][cs_element_icon _id=”49″ ][cs_element_text _id=”50″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”51″ ][cs_element_button _id=”52″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][/cs_element_layout_row_2][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”53″ ][cs_element_layout_row_2 _id=”54″ ][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”55″ ][cs_element_icon _id=”56″ ][cs_element_text _id=”57″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”58″ ][cs_element_button _id=”59″ ][/cs_element_layout_column_2][/cs_element_layout_row_2][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id=”60″ ][cs_element_layout_row_2 _id=”61″ ][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id=”62″ ][cs_element_icon _id=”63″ ][cs_element_text _id=”64″ ]Invest in public outreach and engagement.< \n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column_2][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id="65" ][cs_element_button _id="66" ][cs_content_seo]Flood Risk Communications Toolkit\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column_2][/cs_element_layout_row_2][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id="67" ][cs_element_layout_row_2 _id="68" ][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id="69" ][cs_element_icon _id="70" ][cs_element_text _id="71" ][cs_content_seo]Learn from other communities.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column_2][cs_element_layout_column_2 _id="72" ][cs_element_button _id="73" ][cs_content_seo]Mitigation Action Portfolio (FEMA)\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column_2][/cs_element_layout_row_2][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id="74" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="75" ][cs_element_gap _id="76" ][cs_element_line _id="77" ][cs_element_text _id="78" ][cs_content_seo]For property owner mitigation information, explore our Flood Risk Information for Property Owners page!\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_gap _id="79" ][cs_element_button _id="80" ][cs_content_seo]Flood Risk Information for Property Owners\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id="81" ][cs_element_layout_row _id="82" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="83" ][cs_element_headline _id="84" ][cs_content_seo]Reducing the Risk of Specific Flood and Debris Flow Triggers in Utah\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id="85" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="86" ][cs_element_image _id="87" ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id="88" ][cs_element_headline _id="89" ][cs_content_seo]Fire Scars\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id="90" ][cs_content_seo]Wildfire scars greatly increase the chance of flash flooding in areas downstream from the scar. Even properties that were previously not in the floodplain may find themselves vulnerable to floods and debris flows.\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_button _id="91" ][cs_content_seo]Post-Wildfire website\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][cs_element_layout_row _id="92" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="93" ][cs_element_image _id="94" ][/cs_element_layout_column][cs_element_layout_column _id="95" ][cs_element_headline _id="96" ][cs_content_seo]Alluvial Fans\n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_text _id="97" ][cs_content_seo]Alluvial fans are common geological formations in Utah that create unpredictable flood paths and depths. \n\n[/cs_content_seo][cs_element_button _id="98" ][cs_content_seo]Alluvial Fan Mitigation\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id="99" ][cs_element_layout_row _id="100" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="101" ][cs_element_headline _id="102" ][cs_content_seo]Resources for Community Flood Mitigation Assistance\n\n[/cs_content_seo][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][cs_element_section _id="103" ][cs_element_layout_row _id="104" ][cs_element_layout_column _id="105" ][cs_element_accordion _modules="107,108,109,110,111" _id="106" ][/cs_element_accordion][/cs_element_layout_column][/cs_element_layout_row][/cs_element_section][/cs_content]