Hazard Mitigation Planning Overview
State, Indian Tribal, and local officials develop and adopt mitigation plans to meet the requirements of the Stafford Act. The Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning Guidance provides the official guidance on these requirements and procedures for approval of hazard mitigation plans. Click on the core steps in the graphic below for more information on how to complete a mitigation plan.
This process has four steps:
Step 1: From the start, communities should focus on the resources needed for a successful mitigation planning process. Essential steps include identifying and organizing interested members of the community as well as the technical expertise required during the planning process.
Step 2: Next, communities need to identify the characteristics and potential consequences of hazards. It is important to understand how much of the community can be affected by specific hazards and what the impacts would be on important community assets.
Step 3: Armed with an understanding of the risks posed by hazards, communities need to determine what their priorities should be and then look at possible ways to avoid or minimize the undesired effects. The result is a hazard mitigation plan and strategy for implementation.
Step 4: Communities can bring the plan to life in a variety of ways, ranging from implementing specific mitigation projects to changes in day-to-day organizational operations. To ensure the success of an ongoing program, it is critical that the plan remains relevant. Thus, it is important to conduct periodic evaluations and make revisions as needed.
Last Modified: Monday, 06-Apr-2009 08:53:08 EDT