Mitigation Strategies & Activities

 

Prevention - 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

• Stormwater management

• Drainage system maintenance

• Shoreline / riverine setbacks

• Capital Improvement plans/critical facility placement

• Special assessment districts

• Planning and zoning

• Floodplain regulations



Property Protection - Measures that 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 - Activities that 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 - 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 - Emergency service measures 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 - 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