What is Mitigation?
FEMA defines mitigation as “effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters.” These efforts can take the form of many different individual and community actions, but are categorized into two basic groups: mitigation activities and mitigation projects.
A mitigation project is an effort that involves construction, structural modification, or the removal of property from a high risk area. Examples of mitigation projects: are modifying culverts or other stormwater drainage infrastructure to reduce the risk of flooding; building safe rooms at schools to keeps students safe from tornadoes; laminating window panes to protect against hail and flying debris during severe weather; and bracing older structures’ frames to make them more wind resistant.
A mitigation activity does not directly or physically affect property, but nonetheless helps communities protect themselves from disasters. Specifically, mitigation activities inform local governments of their risks, informs the public of their risks, assists planning efforts, spreads education and awareness, and helps groups interested in staying safe from natural disasters.
Currently, Cedar County, IA and Two Rivers Emergency Management, LLC are engaged in the update and development of a countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan. The development of this plan is paramount to successfully implementing mitigation activities and projects.
What does a mitigation plan mean for your community?
The revision of the Cedar County Hazard Mitigation Plan will provide numerous benefits to your community. Its risk assessment and corresponding mitigation strategies will act as a blue print moving forward on how to best protect yourself from natural hazards.
This blueprint aids the decision making processes of the community and local government departments by synthesizing plans and procedures for the Cedar County Emergency Management, and other county and city planners. Additionally, it provides substantive information for the university, businesses, and local industry to make growth-based and capital improvement-based decisions.
Local governments will see a financial gain as well. FEMA approves hazard mitigation plans on a five year cycle. Within that 5 year period, any plan participants (municipal governments, school districts, or universities) are eligible to apply for mitigation-related grant funding opportunities to abate their natural hazard vulnerabilities. These programs fund mitigation-related projects across the county and their federal budgets total in excess of over $100,000,000 per year.