Plans & collaboration

The City takes an all-hazards approach to disaster and emergency management. This means preparing for and responding to many types of threats. The main goal is to protect the safety and well-being of the community through mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. By addressing hazards in a coordinated way, the City works to reduce risks, limit harm, and help the community recover from crises. The City works with partners to effectively collaborate before, during, and after a disaster.

Guiding plans & documents

The City has several guiding plans for preparing for disasters.

• Community Wildfire Protection Plan: A countywide strategy for assessing wildfire risk, identifying priority areas, and guiding mitigation actions across unincorporated Boulder County.
• Hazard Mitigation Plan: Identifies the hazards that threaten our communities, evaluates the risks from those hazards, and outlines a strategy to reduce or eliminate that risk. The FEMA approved plan is a 5- year plan and allows agencies to apply for pre-disaster and post disaster mitigation funds.
  • The Hazard Mitigation Plan is currently being updated. Stay involved and learn more on the project website.
• Wildfire Risk Assessment: Identifies where wildfire risk is highest, what makes those areas vulnerable, and which mitigation projects will have the greatest impact on public lands. This assessment was conducted exclusively for Louisville public lands.
• Louisville Wildfire and Conflagration Risk Assessment: Identifies vulnerable areas, analyzing ignition and spread potential under extreme weather conditions, and includes customized mitigation strategies that reflect Louisville's unique built environment and climate risks. This assessment considers both public and private land in Louisville.

How we respond to disasters

• The City of Louisville has an Emergency Operations Plan (EOP), which is a comprehensive guide that outlines how the City will respond to various emergencies, such as disasters. It details the roles and responsibilities of city officials, emergency responders, and organizations, ensuring that resources are used efficiently, communication is clear, and safety is prioritized. The EOP helps to coordinate efforts during a crisis, minimize damage, and protect residents.
  • The City updated our Emergency Operations Plan in January 2026, strengthening how we prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. The City Council formally approved the EOP on January 6, 2026, marking an important step in keeping our community safe and resilient.
  • Louisville also has an annex in Boulder ODM’s Emergency Operations Plan that identifies current vulnerabilities, potential hazards, our community profile, and identifies critical facilities. Understanding potential hazards helps ensure operational planning, preparedness, training, and resources are aligned with community needs. The City is in the process of reviewing the current plan documents and may update or modify to ensure it meets current needs.
• The Emergency Manager for the City of Louisville is the City Manager. The Chief of Police, Louisville Fire District Chief, and Boulder County Office of Disaster Management provide critical operational guidance and support.