Hazard Mitigation

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Mitigation is the process or result of making something less severe, dangerous, painful, harmful, or damaging. In emergency management, that means engaging in activities that are designed to reduce or eliminate the effects of a disaster in the community. Examples include developing flood control measures by elevating roads, installing culverts and reviewing planning/zoning requirements. Mitigation efforts sometimes take place long before a disaster strikes as part of a risk analysis for a community, but often are identified immediately following emergency or disaster situations. These types of projects typically involve long term planning for implementation.

Hazard Mitigation Efforts

Maricopa County and twenty four incorporated cities and towns, two tribes and one other governmental organizations participated in a cooperative effort to update the Maricopa County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan. The County and each participating community have an approved hazard mitigation plan resulting from this planning team effort to reduce the potential loss from natural hazards. This plan is a living document that requires adjustments to maintain its relevance and remain a useful tool and resource.

Take some time to review the Maricopa County Multi-jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan and see what the City of Avondale is doing to try to mitigate the hazards that threaten the community.

Hazards that Threaten Avondale

In 2023, the Maricopa County Department of Emergency Management (MCDEM) released its Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) study which identified and analyzed risk susceptibility for communities within Maricopa County. The study identified the following hazards that threaten Avondale:

Thunderstorms/High Winds - Follow the Phoenix Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) for the latest weather updates.
Wildfires - The Arizona Interagency Wildfire Prevention website will provide up to date information on the wildfire status and threat in Arizona.
Extreme Heat - Follow the Phoenix Office of the National Weather Service (NWS) for the latest weather updates.
Flooding/Flash Flooding - The Maricopa County Flood Control District works to characterize flood prone areas within the county. Find out if you are in a flood plain by visiting MCFCD's Flood Plain and Elevation Certificate Viewer.
Hazardous Materials Release - View the Phoenix Fire Department Regional Dispatch Center's active incident dashboard for active hazardous materials incidents.
Pandemic/Epidemic/Endemic - Visit the Center for Disease Control and Maricopa County Department of Public Health for ongoing information on the monitoring of disease outbreaks.
Drought - Visit the Arizona Department of Water Resource's Interactive Drought Dashboard for current drought information and data.
Levee Failure - The Maricopa County Flood Control District and Salt River Project maintain current data on the status of their respective flood control and reservoir structures.
Terrorism - The Arizona Counter Terrorism Information Center is the state's fusion center for the prevention of terrorist attacks. If you see something, say something and REPORT IT HERE! The Department of Homeland Security's National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) has list of the current and expired terrorism advisories.
Dam Levee Failure - The Maricopa County Flood Control District and Salt River Project maintain current data on the status of their respective flood control and reservoir structures.
Radiological Release - The Palo Verde Nuclear Generation Station is located about 30 miles west of Avondale. The 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone is where protective actions (shelter-in-place and/or evacuation) could be required to protect the public from the effects of exposure to radiation.
Subsidence and Fissures - The west valley, including Avondale, exist within an area that has experienced land subsidence due to excessive groundwater withdraw. Check out the Arizona Department of Water Resources (ADWR) for more information and maps showing the amount of subsidence and any resulting earth fissures in the west valley.

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