COEUR d’ALENE — The city council will decide on Tuesday whether to approve the 2026 Kootenai County Multi-Jurisdictional All-Hazard Mitigation Plan.

All-hazard mitigation planning occurs every five years and was last done in 2020. Such planning reduces risks from hazards and serves as a guide for decision makers committing resources to reducing the effects of hazards, according to a report prepared by city staff. 

The Kootenai County Office of Emergency Management drafted the 2026 plan last year with the help of the Kootenai County Local Emergency Planning Committee, local municipalities, agencies, special purpose districts and the All-Hazard Mitigation Plan Steering Committee. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved the 2026 plan. 

“To remain eligible for federal mitigation grant funding, each participating jurisdiction is required to formally adopt the plan,” a city report said. 

The adoption deadline for the plan is Aug. 12 of this year. The plan is valid from Feb. 12 of this year through Feb. 11, 2031. 

The 2026 plan includes an updated list of natural hazards that have occurred since 1997, including the January 2021 windstorm that caused the loss of 166 trees and debris cleanup all over the city, as well as other weather-related incidents that caused damage. 

According to the 2026 Hazard Risk Summary, the top five hazards identified for Coeur d’Alene are windstorms, winter storms, cybersecurity, wildfires and active shooter/threat. 

Coeur d’Alene has identified 15 hazard mitigation projects and initiatives, including mitigation for wildfire, utility failure, hazmat and transportation, flood, winter storms, cybersecurity and terrorism. 

Wildfire mitigation efforts include reducing wild land fuel in public lands, such as Tubbs Hill and city parks, and engaging in localized public education and awareness of wildland fires for incoming visitors. 

If feasible, the city aims to institute pre-storm mitigation on large tree canopy areas and prune large canopy areas to reduce wind sails and remove hazard limbs and codominant stems. 

For additional fire mitigation, the plan calls for treating natural areas within city limits for root rot disease, bark beetle infestations and other invasive species and disease affected these areas and creating high risk areas for fire. 

The city aims to obtain local and state grants to increase backup storage and security of city IT hardware and software and assess the need for backup generators for city-owned buildings. 

City staff recommend that the council approve the plan, according to the report.