Disasters And Hazard Mitigation Programs

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) would become the central point-of-contact within the national government in responding to incidents. Since formation in 1979, FEMA’s core missions were to enhance the government’s ability to survive a foreign attack, and to assist state and local authorities in disaster response (Carafano, 2005). And while the two core missions seem heterogenous in scope at times from an outside perspective, the biggest difference between the two tasks is duration. A man-made disaster may be over in a matter of minutes as compared to a hurricane lasting several days, but in both instances the road to recovery is long. In order to streamline response and recovery in either scenario, FEMA was reorganized with new directives to support comprehensive emergency management practices (CRS, 2006). Today, FEMA provides the standard approach and guidance that many local communities may not have due to funding, training, and

This chapter provides an overview that describes the basic types of hazards threatening the United States and provides definitions for some basic terms such as hazards, emergencies, and disasters. The chapter also provides a brief history of emergency management in the federal government and a general description of the current emergency management system—including the basic functions performed by local emergency managers. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the all-hazards approach and its implications for local emergency management.

On July 19-20 2012, Duluth, MN experienced 10 inches of rain which led to one of the worst inland flood events in American history. The St. Louis River rose over 10 feet and caused significant damage to roads, bridges, and private property (Czuba et al. 2012). Erosion carried massive sediment loads into Lake Superior, posing a risk to both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in the process. The flash flood shook the community and negatively impacted the environment to such a degree that recovery is still a work in progress. The Solstice Flood, as it is known, forced the community to evaluate its outlook and preparations surrounding natural disasters. As global climate change continues, the frequency and magnitude of events like this are going to increase (IPCC, 2014). Unfortunately, the 2012 Solstice Flood in Duluth is symptomatic of how poorly we as a country, and perhaps as a species, have prepared for disasters that will only be magnified going forward.

Hurricane Katrina in many cases was an unfortunate learning experience for emergency management and preparedness. Concentrating on the larger mitigation issues may prove to be the priority opposed to the smaller issues, along with focusing upon risk assessment (Averill, 2005). Risk assessment in emergency management is key to identifying those potential hazards that a particular threat may be likely to impact the area. For example, I reside on the east coast by the beach where the area has a higher threat for hurricanes compares to a community in Iowa. A higher risk assessment for specific threats require a plan and, or mitigation steps.

flood risk areas are broken down into High risk, Moderate and Low risk areas with many layered categories of all three levels. After re-reading my Preferred Risk Policy/Flood Policy Declaration, for my houses in Hawaii and Colorado, they both fell under Flood Risk Zone X, which is classified as a moderate flood hazard area. For example, my home in Colorado, the flood map area is 08041C0575F, and since it is not classified for risk for floods, it was classified as an “X.” Through the Flood Insurance Rates Map (FIRM), which is the “The official map of a community on which FEMA has delineated both the special hazard areas and the risk premium zones applicable to the community.” (fema.gov) So with a $20,000 coverage for the building and $8,000 coverage for personal belongings, both with a $1,000 deductible, our yearly premium is $417.00. I thought this was an acceptable premium considering the unknown risk, but I should be more cognizant in my community to get an actual assessment, and hopefully get a reduced premium, by “providing affordable insurance for property owners and by encouraging communities to adopt and enforce floodplain management regulations.” (fema.gov) Some of things I think off the top of my head that the communities can do in order for their residents to be eligible are to install proper water run offs in the streets, have some sort of “green plan” for the area, Furthermore, my Colorado address is “shown on the FIRM, and are the areas between the limits of the base flood and the 0.2-percent-annual-chance (or 500-year) flood” (fema.gov) meaning low to moderate level of severe

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is over $24 billion in debt following disasters such as Hurricanes Sandy and Katrina.1 The program was created in the 1960s because insurers were leaving the flood insurance market due to outrageous risks. Its purpose is to subsidize the policies of property owners in flood risk areas and, for some, is the only way to get affordable flood coverage. Today, about 20% of the 5.5 million flood policies in effect are subsidized by the NFIP. The other 80% pays premiums based on actual risk, which is the point of insurance to begin with.2 What began as a successful solution to unaffordable rates has become an economic disaster, leaving taxpayers to pick up the tab.

The Earth can be characterized by its unknown natural phenomenon There are different types of natural hazards that can happen, from Tsunamis, earthquakes, landslides ect. For instance, earthquakes are natural disasters that are characterized by vibrations and shaking within the ground, some earthquakes have the potential to become deadly. These quakes are among a number of natural disasters that can happen without warning. Earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides are some of these dangers that can vary in magnitude and size, from small, barely noticeable waves, shake, or slides to violent waves, shaking, or slides that carry the potential to destroy buildings and threaten life. Due to the uncertainty of when these disasters might happen, these

NFIP was created to reduce federal disaster aid by requiring homeowners in floodplain areas to buy insurance that would replace government grants and loans. FEMA estimates that federal disaster aid is reduced by $100 for every $300 worth of flood insurance that is sold. (David C, John. 2003) What’s more, one important principle of NFIP is to allow people to bear the costs of their choice of places and to reduce the burden on taxpayers nationwide. In general, this program includes three parts: providing flood insurance, implementing flood zone management rules and drawing flood insurance rate map.

In order for a beneficial reform of the National Flood Insurance Program to occur, serious examination of the program’s key features must occur and any flaws that are found must be accounted for. These major features include: the role that FEMA and private insurance companies play, the enforcement of the mandate that requires at risk homeowners to purchase flood insurance, the accuracy of flood maps, and actions taken by FEMA in order to prevent flood damage in the first place. Beginning with the role that FEMA and private insurance companies play in making the NFIP function, this is the top concern that needs to be addressed in order to turn the failing program into a self-sustaining successful one. As it currently stands, the process

To be eligible for Hazard Mitigation assistance, the applicant must be an emergency management agency or similar, belonging to one of the 50 states. Of course tribal governments, districts and other recognized U.S. territories are eligible as well, but for this paper the focus is on the county

Homes situated in low to moderate risk areas could be eligible for PRP or Preferred Risk Policy, an affordable option that allows homeowners and business owners protection against the destructing effects of flood. Flood insurance for your home can be purchased through the NFIP or National Flood Insurance Program and other private companies. The government often backs most private insurance companies offering flood insurance. When purchasing an insurance from a private firm, it is necessary to check its financial capacity and reputation to make certain that it will be around if you file for a flood claim.

Over the last decade the social and economic costs of disasters to the United States, and throughout the World have grown significantly. During the 1990’s, FEMA spent over $25.4 billion to provide disaster assistance in the United States. During that decade, the economic toll of natural disasters, world wide, topped $608 billion. This amounted to more than the previous four decades combined. The causes of this increase in disaster consequences are myriad. Climatalogical changes such as El Nino, global warming and sea level rise have all been identified as

It is with the salient awareness of its susceptibility to hurricanes that the city of Mobile in Alabama initiates the development of hazard mitigation planning. The Mobile County Alabama Hurricanes Hazard mitigation plan is a multi-jurisdictional guide for the county of Mobile. Its communities and other stakeholders who are the vital players in their efforts to successfully prepare a plan that will act as a roadmap in responding to hurricane disasters. The plan addresses the hurricane hazard that is a major threat to the people, property and the infrastructure of Mobile County in Alabama. The plan focuses on hazard mitigation planning and actions necessary to reduce or eliminating long–term effects to people and their property as a result of the occurrence of hurricanes. The purpose of the mitigation plan is to ensure that the repetitive cycle is broken by producing less vulnerable conditions amongst the people, property and topographical features.

On August 29, 2009, Hurricane Katrina struck the United States Gulf Coast. It was a Category 3 Hurricane, according to the Saffir Simpson Scale. Winds gusted to up to 140 miles per hour, and the hurricane was almost 400 miles wide . The storm itself did a tremendous amount of damage, but the storm’s aftermath was cataclysmic. Many claimed that the federal government was slow to meet the needs of the hundreds of thousands of people affected by the storm. This paper will examine the four elements of disaster management – preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation – as well as an analysis on the data presented.

Sec. 2. Declaration of Policy. – It shall be the policy of the State to: