1. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Chapter 3 The Disciplines of Emergency Management: Mitigation

2. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Mitigation A sustained action to reduce or eliminate risk to people and property from hazards and their effects

3. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Mitigation differs from the other emergency management disciplines because it looks at long-term solutions to reducing risk as opposed to preparedness for hazards, the immediate response to a hazard, or the short-term recovery from a hazard event

4. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. land-use planners construction and building officials business owners insurance companies community leaders politicians Implementing mitigation programs and activities requires the participation and support of a broad spectrum of players outside of the traditional emergency management circle. Mitigation involves, among others:

5. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Tools for Mitigation Hazard identification and mapping Design and construction applications Land-use planning Financial incentives Insurance Structural controls

6. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Hazard ID and Mapping The most obvious tool for mitigation You must know what it is or whom it affects Federal government maps virtually every hazard –FEMA’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides detailed flood maps and studies –The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides extensive earthquake and landslide studies and maps Geographic information systems (GIS) HAZUS (earthquakes, hurricanes, and floods) RiskMAP

7. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Design / Construction Applications Cost-effective means of addressing risk Governed by building codes, architecture and design criteria, and soils and landscaping considerations. Some states delegate code adoption responsibility to more local governmental authorities Performance based design / construction becoming more critical, especially in earthquake prone areas Significant Federal investment in developing technical guidance for improving the building and construction of structures in hazard areas, particularly earthquake, wind, and flood-prone areas International Code Council (ICC)

8. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Land Use Planning Mitigation most successful when local Land-use planning strategies offer many options for effecting mitigation, including acquisition, easements, storm water management, annexation, environmental review, floodplain management plans, zoning options, special uses permits, historic preservation, coastal zone management, and subdivision controls NFIP required local governments to pass a floodplain management ordinance Property acquisition is clearly the most effective land-use planning tool, but it is also the most costly.

9. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Financial Incentives Special tax assessments Passage of tax increases or bonds to pay for mitigation Relocation assistance, and Targeted federal community development or renewal grant funds for mitigation The Community Development Block Grant The Small Business Administration The Economic Development Administration

10. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Insurance Insurance is a risk transfer measure The NFIP is an example of how, if properly designed, insurance can be a tool for mitigation NFIP considered one of the most successful mitigation programs ever created NFIP Community Rating System Today more than 20,000 communities in the NFIP have mitigation programs in place Major disasters often instigate change in the industry Some states are considering hurricane insurance programs similar to the NFIP

11. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Structural Controls Controversial as a mitigation tool Used to control the hazard, not reduce it The levee is the most common structural control Levees give a false sense of safety that often promotes increased development Other structural controls include: –Seawalls –Bulkheads –Breakwaters –Groins –jetties

12. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Impediments to Mitigation Denial of the risk Lack of political will Costs and lack of funding The taking issue State or local match Changes: –Potential liability issues –Media attention –Incentives / penalties

13. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Federal Mitigation Programs Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Flood Mitigation Assistance Program Repetitive Flood Claims Program Severe Repetitive Loss Program National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program National Hurricane Program National Dam Safety Program Fire Prevention and Assistance Act

14. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Largest source of funding for state/local mitigation Provides grants after major disaster declaration Projects must pass the benefit/cost test Examples include: –Property acquisition –Retrofitting of structures and lifelines –Elevation of structures –Vegetation management programs –Building code enforcement –Localized flood-control projects –Public education and awareness

15. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. HMGP Continued 1988 to 1993, many states did not take advantage After 1993 floods, legislation amended to allow 75 percent federal, 25 percent state match, and dramatically increased the amount of funding to 15 percent of the total disaster costs HMGP allowed states to hire staff to work on mitigation and requires development of a State Hazard Mitigation Plan

16. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program Created by Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 Funding not dependent on a disaster declaration Based on Project Impact Communities were asked to achieve four goals: –Build a community partnership –Assess the risks –Prioritize risk-reduction actions –Build support by communicating your actions. By 2001, more than 200 communities were participating; In 2002, Project Impact name dropped In FY07, eligibility was tied to an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan

17. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction program Established in 1977 Works to improve understanding, characterization, and prediction of hazards and vulnerabilities; improve model building codes and land use practices; reduce risk through post-earthquake investigations and education; develop and improve design and construction techniques; improve mitigation capacity; and accelerate application of research results. Provides funding for public education and awareness, planning, loss estimation studies, and some minimal mitigation activities.

18. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. NEHRP Continued Primary program agencies are: –Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) –National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) –National Science Foundation (NSF) –United States Geological Survey (USGS) NIST is the lead agency for NEHRP FEMA responsible for emergency response and management, estimation of loss potential, and implementation of mitigation actions National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program modeled according to the NEHRP model

19. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. National Hurricane Program Supports activities at the federal, state, and local levels Focus on the physical effects of hurricanes, improved response capabilities, and new mitigation techniques Significant work in storm surge modeling and evacuation planning, design and construction of properties in hurricane-prone areas, and public education and awareness programs for schools and communities. FEMA receives only $3 million annually for the program

20. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Fire Prevention and Assistance Act Created in 2001 to address fire department needs Congress had longstanding concerns about status of this first-responder community Program provides competitive grants to fire companies throughout the US After 9/11, the appropriations for this program tripled in 2002

21. ©2010 Elsevier, Inc. Non-Federal Mitigation Grants Virtually all mitigation grant programs are Federally- funded State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) NGO programs exist to provide monetary, material, and technical assistance required by individuals, businesses and communities to mitigate hazard risks Examples: –The Institute for Business and Home Safety (IBHS) –Rebuild Northwest Florida –Association of State Floodplain Managers –National Hazard Mitigation Association