Hazard Mitigation

This project discusses the topics of hazard mitigation, what it is and its importance, the difference between structural and non-structural mitigation strategies, and the hazard planning process.

As the cost of disasters rise, it is more apparent that pre-disaster actions must be implemented to reduce the amount of devastation to a local or state community. These pre-disaster actions fall into the meaning of mitigation. Mitigation is defined as "sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their effects" (IS 393, pg 1-2). There are four phases of Emergency Management: Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation. The overall end goal of mitigation is to reduce risk. The success of the mitigation efforts will decrease the requirements, the impact, and the expense of a hazardous event.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires communities and states to develop a hazard mitigation plan. This plan must be approved and in place before any post-disaster funds are administered (FEMA 364, p.11).

To reduce risk you must find out what hazards are in the community. This starts the process of mitigation. There are three p

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Financial assets and technical assistance are more easily attained when all organizations work together.

· Support applied research on priority mitigation issues.

The Importance of Hazard Mitigation

The main reason mitigation is important in because "you will be prepared for a disaster before it strikes, thereby saving lives, property, time, money, and resources" (FEMA 364, p. You can receive technical assistance/guidance in the preparation of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan as well as help with updating it.

Coordination of government agencies and other response organizations - important or unimportant in hazard mitigation?

Definitely important! Mitigation starts locally.

Nonstructural mitigation actions use the government's spending, taxing, management, and regulatory powers to limit the extent people and property are in harm's way (ICMA, p. There are two main goals involved:

· To increase public awareness of the risks of natural hazards so that they will become more involved, and

· A reduction in death, injuries, costs, and the destruction of natural resources that are a result of a natural hazard (IS 393, p.

According to IS 393, there are 10 basic steps that the planning team should follow to ensure that the mitigation plan is effective:

There are several advantages to coordination with other agencies and governments, such as that they provide a broad support for implementation. Structural mitigation can be very costly and may provide the public with a false sense of security.

Approximate Word count = 2354
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)

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