PROJECT IMPACT Building Disaster-Resistant Communities

Heavy Disaster Costs FEMA spent $20 billion responding to disasters in 49 states over past ten years Other federal agencies spent billions more State and local government, private sector and individuals also pay heavy costs

The Damage to Business is Real Structural loss Business interruption Community infrastructure loss Customer loss Community loss

Economic Toll from Disasters Businesses close People lose their jobs 40% of small businesses never open again

Project Impact- Working Together Building Partnerships Identifying Risks Prioritizing Needs Implementing Long-Term Plans To Protect Communities Community Information Sharing

Making Communities Disaster Resistant Strengthening Structures Homes Businesses Bridges Roads Public facilities: schools, hospitals

Examining Building Codes Strengthen codes to meet disaster risks of your community Restricting Building Areas Local measures to discourage building in floodplains or high risk areas Protecting At-Risk Structures Protect structures in floodplains or high risk areas Making Communities Disaster Resistant

PROJECT IMPACT is about cutting disaster costs. Taking Responsibility--Taking Action.

PROJECT IMPACT GOAL is to Make Each and Every Community Disaster-Resistant.

Americans Prepared Witt launches Project Impact at El Niño summit in Santa Monica in October ‘97 People took action Californians secured roofs, cleaned culverts and drains and elevated utilities and electrical panels

El Niño Prevention Pays Off Despite El Niño related storms and related severe weather, FEMA disaster-related costs remained level.

P R O J E C T I M P A C T A M o d e l f o r C o m m u n i t y A c t i o n

Where It Happens: At the Local Level 7 pilot Project Impact communities Over 100 communities by 1999.

Business Partners: Protecting Their Communities Business partners help to protect their company, employees, and community Goal to have 500 business partners by September Small, Medium and Large Companies...Home Depot, Bell Atlantic, Washington Mutual…. Contingency Planning Exchange Mentoring Program

Businesses Can Contribute-- What They Can Do. Responsibility to your Company Anheuser Busch Mitigation Efforts Responsibility to your Employees Michael Baker Associates - 10% or $50 off of flood insurance premium Responsibility to your Community Washington Mutual - loan program helps to protect their community

The Business Impact is Real at least An investment in mitigation gets 100% return -- at least.

The Anheuser-Busch Return Pre-disaster investment in mitigation efforts saved $300 million in Northridge Earthquake --15X cost of investment in mitigation.

1 Building Partnerships 2 Assessing Risk 3 Prioritizing Needs 4 Keep Your Community Informed PROJECT IMPACT 4 Phases to a Disaster-Resistant Community

First Phase: Building Partnerships Organize A Disaster-Resistant Community Planning Committee Invite: business and industry public works and utilities volunteer/community groups government education, health care, workforce

Second Phase: Are You Vulnerable? Risk Assessment What are the community’s risks for natural disasters? What specific structures and areas are most vulnerable?

Third Phase: Taking Action Setting Priorities Identify mitigation priorities and take action Identify the measures you will take and do it! Identify and secure resources

Fourth Phase: It Takes Everyone! Communicate Your Progress Keep your community informed as you take actions Promote involvement of your partners Maintain support for your long-term initiatives

Deerfield Beach, FL., A Disaster Resistant Community Business Alliance meets to.… Has relocated critical city services into one disaster-resistant building Retrofitted school to serve as safe shelter Developed residential home retrofitting program to withstand threat of hurricanes

Where to Get Help Project Impact Resources Project Impact Guidebook Project Impact Brochure Project Impact Overview and “Changing the Way America Deals with Disasters” Video FEMA Technical Assistance Local Project Impact Coordinator Award Winning Website Other Communities

Changing the Way America Deals with Disasters PROJECT IMPACT