Harry S. Truman Coordinating Council

Serving Barton, Jasper, McDonald, and Newton Counties

Disaster Prevention through Hazard Mitigation Planning

Natural hazards, such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, are a part of the world around us. Their occurrence is natural and inevitable, and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity. However, through hazard mitigation planning, we can control what comes afterward. By minimizing the impact of natural hazards upon our built environment, we can prevent such events from resulting in disasters.

Americans live in the most severe weather-prone country on Earth. According to the National Weather Service, the United States is impacted every year by an approximate average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and 10 hurricanes. The frequency of disasters in the United States is rising at an alarming rate, not necessarily because these natural hazard events have become more frequent, but because more and more people and property are being located in areas more vulnerable to their effects. As populations increase and communities continue to grow, more development is constructed in floodplains, along oceanfronts, and in areas subject to earthquake, landslides and wildfires. The need for our communities to get serious about hazard mitigation has never been so great.

FEMA Region VII
Suite 300
9221 Ward Parkway
Kansas City, MO 64114-3372
Telephone: (816) 283-7002

Disaster Mitigation is any action or measure that either prevents that occurrence of a disaster or reduces the severity of its effects.

Hazard Mitigation Planning is an important aspect of a successful mitigation program. Hazard mitigation planning is a collaborative process whereby hazards affecting the community are identified, vulnerability to the hazards are assessed, and consensus reached on how to minimize or eliminate the effects of these hazards.

The Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) program provides technical and financial assistance to the State and local governments for cost-effective pre-disaster hazard mitigation activities that complement a comprehensive mitigation program, and reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage and destruction of property.

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) provides grants to the State and local governments to implement long-term hazard mitigation measures after a major disaster declaration. The purpose of the program is to reduce the loss of life and property due to natural disasters and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented during the immediate recovery from a disaster.

For more information concerning Hazard Mitigation Programs click here.

Subcommittee Advances Bill Establishing a  National Climate Service to Coordinate and Disseminate Climate  Information:(Washington, D.C.) The House  Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment approved draft  legislation to  create a National Climate Service at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Administration (NOAA).

“In a climate  that is changing, it is imperative that we have reliable information to help us  adapt and respond to these changes,”said Subcommittee Chairman Brian Baird  (D-WA). “We must take a more strategic approach and structure the delivery  of climate information and services to benefit the nation. A National Climate  Service will support regional, state, local and tribal governments, businesses,  and individuals in their efforts to make better decisions and plan for the  future.” more...

Newtonia 2008 Storm

Emergency Management Independent Study Program


The independent study program is one way that EMI offers emergency management training to the general public and to select emergency management audiences.

Go to FEMA website for information on these courses.

These independent study courses are geared toward both the general public and persons who have local government responsibilities for emergency management.

All courses are suitable for either individual or group enrollment, and are available at no charge. Courses include a final examination, and persons who score 75 percent or better on the examination are issued a certificate of completion by EMI.

If you have questions about these courses, you can call 301-447-1200, e-mail independent.study@dhs.gov, or write to:

FEMA Independent Study Program
Administration Office
Emergency Management Institute
16825 S. Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
For information regarding application for academic credit and fees, contact the

Independent Study Office at EMI at 1-800-238-3358.

Personal Emergency Backpack

Remember, you need to make sure that your batteries, food, water, medications, and everything else, should be checked at least every six (6) months to make sure that everything is up to date.

Mitigation strategies or activities fall into six general categories.

Prevention
Preventative activities are intended to keep hazard problems from getting worse. They are particularly effective in reducing a community’s future vulnerability, especially in areas where development has not occurred or capital improvements have not been substantial. Examples of preventative activities include:

•Open space preservation
•Storm water management
•Drainage system maintenance
•Shoreline / riverine setbacks
•Capital Improvement Plans/critical facility placement
•Special assessment districts

Local land use plans and ordinances can be used to limit development in hazard-prone areas or to from getting worse. Examples of local enforcement tools that can be used include:
•Planning and zoning
•Floodplain regulations

Property Protection
Property protection measures protect new or existing structures by modifying the building to withstand hazardous events, or removing structures from hazardous locations. Examples include:

•Acquisition
•Relocation
•Building elevation
•Critical facilities protection
•Building codes (enforcement)
•Safe rooms
•Basement backflow prevention
•Retrofitting (i.e., windproofing, floodproofing, seismic design standards, etc.)
•Wind shutters

Natural Resource Protection
Natural resource protection activities reduce the impact of natural hazards by preserving or restoring natural areas and their mitigation functions. Such areas include floodplains, wetlands, and dunes. Parks, recreation, or conservation agencies, and organizations often implement these measures. Examples include:

•Floodplain protection
•Riparian buffers
•Vegetative planting and treatment / slope stabilization / fire-resistant landscaping
•Fuel breaks
•Wetland preservation and restoration

Structural Projects
Structural mitigation projects are intended to lessen the impact of a hazard by modifying the environmental natural progression of the hazard event. They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by public works staff. Examples include:

•Channel modification
•Levees/dikes/floodwalls
•Diversions/detention/retention
•Reservoirs
•Utility protection/upgrades
•Wind retrofitting/windproofing

Emergency Services
Although not typically considered a “mitigation technique,” emergency service measures do minimize the impact of a hazard event on people and property. These commonly are actions taken immediately prior to, during, or in response to a hazard event. Examples include:
•Warning systems
•Evacuation planning and management
•Sandbagging for flood protection

Public Information and Awareness
Public information and awareness activities are used to advise residents, business owners, potential property buyers, and visitors about hazards, hazardous areas, and mitigation techniques they can use to protect themselves and their property. Examples of measures to educate and inform the public include:

•Speaker series / demonstration events
•Hazard map information
•Real estate disclosure
•Library materials
•School children education
•Hazard expositions
•Websites

Updated January 2, 2009

Benefits of a mitigation project

Mitigation Project Ideas

Examples of Mitigation Activities