Online FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION HANDBOOKS

created by the FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY
 

The following Handbooks have originally produced by FEMA Region X for use in FEMA's Public Assistance Program. Because of their usefulness, they are being adapted and expanded for web-based publication by FEMA Headquarters in 2002.  Although planned to be published on the FEMA website, this was never executed as originally intended, but they have been passed on to FPI by FEMA.  We at FPI have determined that they are of potential value to our users, and so we have mounted them here on the FPI site.  Much of the material in these Handbooks is not specific to the problems of historical buildings, but they do provide a comprehensive look at mitigation strategies to correct existing conditions involving all older buildings and landscape features.

FLOOD HAZARD MITIGATION HANDBOOK

Created by FEMA, Region X
last updated, 2002

EARTHQUAKE HAZARD MITIGATION HANDBOOK

Created by FEMA Region X, and
modified and expanded by FEMA Headquarters
last updated, 2002

This document is reworked from portions of the Region X published version, combined with information drawn from FEMA 154 and FEMA 310 publications.  Only the portions pertaining to "Buildings" and "Utilities" are to be included here.

INTRODUCTION TO THE HANDBOOKS

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continuously strives to improve the delivery of disaster assistance to states and local governments. These Handbooks are provided to assist entities that may be affected by natural catastrophic events and Presidentially-declared disasters.  The various mitigation measures discussed are intended to help identify options and mitigation ideas for local jurisdictions that can be used at any time, not only after a disaster.

The Problem:

As disasters have grown in frequency and severity, the costs of response and recovery have escalated to unsustainable levels. It has been estimated that, nationwide, natural disasters cost approximately $50 billion each year.  This figure includes assistance paid by other Federal agencies, costs to State and local governments, insurance payments, and direct individual and business losses.

The Solution:

The most effective way to reduce excessive losses is through disaster preparedness and mitigation. To best achieve this goal, we as a society need to vigorously pursue three objectives:

OBJECTIVE 1: To break the disaster-rebuild-disaster cycle. This cycle of repetitive loss is the historical mode of disaster recovery. But merely repairing substandard facilities to their pre-disaster condition does not protect the community from future disaster damages or reduce long-term costs. Mitigation betterments should always be considered in the rebuilding process, utilizing a multi-hazard approach whenever possible.

OBJECTIVE 2: To strengthen existing infrastructure and facilities to more effectively withstand the next disaster.

OBJECTIVE 3: To ensure that communities address natural hazards. Comprehensive plans should acknowledge all hazards that pose a risk and take steps to avoid these hazards altogether, or incrementally reduce the community's exposure to its hazards.

The Savings:

The outcome of achieving these objectives will be more resilient and economically sustainable communities. Every dollar spent in damage prevention, may save as much as two to three dollars in future repairs.

PURPOSE OF THE HANDBOOKS

The FEMA Hazard Mitigation Handbooks for Public Facilities (Handbooks) are intended to aid local jurisdictions in identifying a variety of feasible mitigation ideas that can be implemented during the rebuilding process. It focuses on projects commonly eligible for hazard mitigation funding under the Public Assistance Program.

This Handbook provides local jurisdictions with mitigation ideas that have demonstrated success and can be timely implemented. These mitigation measures relate to the most common damages sustained by the subject natural hazards. These Handbooks can be a useful mitigation tool regardless whether a specific project is proposed for FEMA funding under either the Public Assistance or Mitigation programs or funded locally from other resources.

Mitigation measures in the Handbooks are presented as helpful ideas. To learn of FEMA's Section 406 Hazard Mitigation program associated with a Presidential Declaration, please contact FEMA directly.

PUBLIC ASSISTANCE ELIGIBILITY DISCLAIMER

As with all Federal agencies that provide funding, FEMA requires specific criteria be met regarding eligibility before a given project is approved for Federal assistance.  The purpose of this Handbook is to provide general information to local governments and the public.  It is not intended to address the issue of FEMA funding eligibility or discuss the criteria for Federal funding decisions.  Thus, it is important to note that none of the mitigation measures in these Handbooks should be considered 'pre-approved' or otherwise automatically eligible for FEMA funding. Only FEMA staff can determine eligibility, once they have determined that an applicant is eligible and they have reviewed a project proposal. 

It is also important to note that these Handbooks were last reviewed and updated in 2002, and that later solutions, codes and technologies are therefore not represented in the documents.

 

NOTE:  None of the mitigation measures in these Handbooks should be considered 'pre-approved' or otherwise automatically eligible for FEMA funding. Only FEMA staff can determine eligibility, once they have determined that an applicant is eligible and they have reviewed a project proposal. FEMA HAZARD MITIGATION HANDBOOKS                                                                        Handbooks last updated: May15, 2002