Using Mitigation Planning to Reduce Disaster Losses Karen Helbrecht and Kathleen W. Smith United...

Using Mitigation Planning to Using Mitigation Planning to Reduce Disaster LossesReduce Disaster Losses

Karen Helbrecht and Kathleen W. SmithKaren Helbrecht and Kathleen W. SmithUnited States: Federal Emergency Management Agency United States: Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA)(FEMA)

May 7, 2008May 7, 2008

Evolution of Hazard MitigationEvolution of Hazard Mitigation

Large Structural ProjectsLarge Structural Projects Traditional responseTraditional response to floods to floods Focused on Focused on levees, dams, and stream levees, dams, and stream

diversionsdiversions Flood victims receivedFlood victims received disaster relief disaster relief Traditional Traditional approachapproach did notdid not::

– discouragediscourage unwise unwise developmentdevelopment– promote soundpromote sound floodplain managementfloodplain management


National Flood Insurance National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP)Program (NFIP)

The Need for the NFIPThe Need for the NFIP– Flood losses and Disaster Flood losses and Disaster

relief continued to mountrelief continued to mount– Property owners were Property owners were

unable to buy flood unable to buy flood insurance from insurance insurance from insurance companiescompanies

Congress created the Congress created the NFIP in 1968NFIP in 1968


Disaster RecoveryDisaster Recovery Communities Communities built backbuilt back the the samesame wayway Same or Same or similar damages sufferedsimilar damages suffered after after

another disasteranother disasterFlood Map

Modernization

Floods


PreparednessGetting people and equipment ready to quickly and effectively respond to a disaster

RecoveryPutting a community back together after a

disaster

ResponseSaving life and property during and immediately

after a disaster

MitigationSustained actions taken to reduce or

eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their effects


ElementsElements of of

MitigationMitigationRisk

ReductionElevation

Acquisition

Retrofitting

Floodplain Management

Risk Analysis

Impact Assessment

Flood Hazard Mapping

Mitigation Planning

Risk Insurance

Strengthening Building Codes

Flood Insurance

Floodplain Management

Hazard Mitigation Hazard Mitigation Planning Planning

Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000– Places new importance on mitigation planningPlaces new importance on mitigation planning– National guidelines for planning National guidelines for planning – Promotes sustainability as a strategy for Promotes sustainability as a strategy for

disaster resistancedisaster resistance

Mitigation PlansMitigation Plans

Encourage sound decision-making based on a Encourage sound decision-making based on a good understanding of hazards and vulnerabilities good understanding of hazards and vulnerabilities of the communityof the community

States must have an approved mitigation plan to States must have an approved mitigation plan to receive non-emergency disaster assistancereceive non-emergency disaster assistance

Communities must have an approved Communities must have an approved local hazard local hazard mitigation planmitigation plan in place to be eligible for project in place to be eligible for project grants under FEMA’s mitigation grant programsgrants under FEMA’s mitigation grant programs

Hazard Mitigation Hazard Mitigation Planning Planning

Local Mitigation PlansLocal Mitigation Plans– Single JurisdictionalSingle Jurisdictional– Multi-Jurisdictional Multi-Jurisdictional

Tribal Mitigation PlansTribal Mitigation Plans State Standard Mitigation PlansState Standard Mitigation Plans State Enhanced Mitigation Plans State Enhanced Mitigation Plans

Four Types of Mitigation Plans

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and ResponsibilitiesAgency RelationshipsAgency Relationships

FEMAHeadquarters

(HQ)

FEMAHeadquarters

(HQ)

State Emergency Management Agencies

(SEMAs)

State Emergency Management Agencies

(SEMAs)

FEMARegional Offices

FEMARegional Offices

LocalJurisdiction

LocalJurisdiction

Local Jurisdiction

Local Jurisdiction

Local Jurisdiction

Local Jurisdiction

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities

State Hazard Mitigation OfficesState Hazard Mitigation Offices

Responsible for implementing planning activities at Responsible for implementing planning activities at the the state and local levelstate and local level including: including:

– preparing and submitting a “standard state plan” (or preparing and submitting a “standard state plan” (or “enhanced state plan”)“enhanced state plan”)

– reviewing, updating, and resubmitting, for FEMA reviewing, updating, and resubmitting, for FEMA approval, the state mitigation plan every three yearsapproval, the state mitigation plan every three years

– conducting preliminary reviews of local DMA 2000 conducting preliminary reviews of local DMA 2000 hazard mitigation planshazard mitigation plans

Roles and ResponsibilitiesRoles and Responsibilities

Local JurisdictionsLocal Jurisdictions Responsible for:Responsible for:

– preparing and submitting a local planpreparing and submitting a local plan– reviewing, updating and resubmitting the mitigation reviewing, updating and resubmitting the mitigation

plan for FEMA approval every five yearsplan for FEMA approval every five years

A local mitigation plan can address:A local mitigation plan can address:– A A single jurisdictionsingle jurisdiction– Multiple jurisdictionsMultiple jurisdictions within a county, watershed, within a county, watershed,

regional planning districtregional planning district

4 Step Planning Process4 Step Planning Process

Organize resourcesOrganize resources

Understand risks and vulnerabilitiesUnderstand risks and vulnerabilities

Prepare the mitigation plan - Identify goals Prepare the mitigation plan - Identify goals and mitigation strategiesand mitigation strategies

Implement the planImplement the plan

Organize ResourcesOrganize Resources

Assess Community Assess Community SupportSupport

Build the Planning Build the Planning TeamTeam

Engage the PublicEngage the Public

Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

Identify HazardsIdentify Hazards

Profile Hazard EventsProfile Hazard Events

Inventory AssetsInventory Assets

Estimate LossesEstimate Losses

Mitigation StrategyMitigation Strategy

““An Thorough Risk Assessment Leads to an An Thorough Risk Assessment Leads to an Effective Mitigation Strategy”Effective Mitigation Strategy”

Risk Assessment

Update

Mitigation Strategy Changes

Goals, Objectives, & ACTIONS

Reduction in Vulnerability

Mitigation StrategyMitigation Strategy

Develop Mitigation Goals Develop Mitigation Goals and Objectivesand Objectives

Identify and Prioritize Identify and Prioritize Mitigation ActionsMitigation Actions

Implementation StrategyImplementation Strategy

Document the ProcessDocument the Process

Bringing the Plan to LifeBringing the Plan to Life

Adopt the mitigation planAdopt the mitigation plan

Implement the plan recommendationsImplement the plan recommendations

Evaluate planning resultsEvaluate planning results

Revise and update the planRevise and update the plan

Mitigation Planning FactsMitigation Planning FactsTechnical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

How-To GuidesHow-To Guides

Mitigation Planning FactsMitigation Planning FactsTechnical AssistanceTechnical Assistance

Guidance created by FEMA Guidance created by FEMA ((Multi-Hazard Mitigation Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning GuidancePlanning Guidance) provides ) provides interpretation and clarification interpretation and clarification regarding the intent of, and regarding the intent of, and approaches to meeting, the approaches to meeting, the requirements of the Rulerequirements of the Rule

Planning GuidancePlanning Guidance“Crosswalk” “Crosswalk”

ElementElement Location in theLocation in thePlanPlan (section or (section orannex and page #) annex and page #)

Reviewer’s CommentsReviewer’s Comments ScoreScore

N S N S

Does the plan include Does the plan include an an overall summary overall summary description of the description of the jurisdiction’s jurisdiction’s vulnerability vulnerability to each to each hazard? hazard?

Section II, pp. 4-10Section II, pp. 4-10 The plan describes the types of assets that are The plan describes the types of assets that are located within geographically defined hazard located within geographically defined hazard areas as well as those that would be affected by areas as well as those that would be affected by winter storms.winter storms.

Does the plan Does the plan address the address the impact impact of of each hazard on the each hazard on the jurisdiction? jurisdiction?

Section II, pp. 10-20 The plan does not address the impact of two of The plan does not address the impact of two of the five hazards addressed in the plan. the five hazards addressed in the plan.

Required Revisions: Required Revisions: Include a description of the Include a description of the impact of floods and earthquakes on the assets. impact of floods and earthquakes on the assets.

Recommended Revisions: Recommended Revisions: This information can This information can be presented in terms of dollar value or be presented in terms of dollar value or percentage of damage. percentage of damage.

Summary ScoreSummary Score Not MetNot Met

Mitigation PlanningMitigation PlanningSix Years LaterSix Years Later

By May 1, 2004, every State had an By May 1, 2004, every State had an approved planapproved plan

Approved Approved Local Hazard Mitigation Plans Local Hazard Mitigation Plans – Who is covered Who is covered todaytoday??

65 percent of the US population65 percent of the US population

– How many plans How many plans todaytoday?? More than 16,000 jurisdictions More than 16,000 jurisdictions

covered covered

Status of Local Plan ApprovalStatus of Local Plan Approval

U.S. Communities with Approved Mitigation Plans

1446

6001

13147

15979

19125

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Projected

Challenges and OpportunitiesChallenges and Opportunities

Stay engaged in the planning processStay engaged in the planning process Different cultural perspectivesDifferent cultural perspectives Range of capabilitiesRange of capabilities


Emergency Managers vs Community Emergency Managers vs Community PlannersPlanners

Integration and consistency of plansIntegration and consistency of plans Accuracy of risk assessment dataAccuracy of risk assessment data


Mitigation Actions vs. Mitigation Actions vs. Response ActionsResponse Actions

Think “Outside of the Box”Think “Outside of the Box” To Accomplish Other Local To Accomplish Other Local

GoalsGoals Other Funding SourcesOther Funding Sources

Identify a Identify a comprehensive comprehensive rangerange of Actions of Actions


Incorporation of Mitigation Planning into Incorporation of Mitigation Planning into Other Planning MechanismsOther Planning Mechanisms

Analyzing Growth & Development TrendsAnalyzing Growth & Development Trends

Increasing involvement of city officials and Increasing involvement of city officials and the publicthe public


Risk AssessmentRisk Assessment

– Ensuring that best available data is used in Ensuring that best available data is used in developing the plandeveloping the plan

– Incorporate any new Scientific Data on HazardsIncorporate any new Scientific Data on Hazards– Incorporate updated loss estimates Incorporate updated loss estimates

What We’ve Learned What We’ve Learned

Be more specific in guidanceBe more specific in guidance– ““What’s the Bottom Line?”What’s the Bottom Line?”

Provide web resources Provide web resources Provide more guidance and toolsProvide more guidance and tools And we’re still learning…And we’re still learning…

Where do we go from here? Where do we go from here?

How can we demonstrate effectiveness of How can we demonstrate effectiveness of plans?plans?– Document actual reduction in damagesDocument actual reduction in damages– Demonstrate continuous improvement in the Demonstrate continuous improvement in the

planning process planning process

Using Mitigation Planning to Reduce Disaster Losses Karen Helbrecht and Kathleen W. Smith United...

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