hazard mitigation/hazard types

Introduction

Natural hazards and disasters are inevitable . The United States is frequently hit by different types of hazards and disasters and responds to each disaster accordingly . Disasters are not natural . There are natural hazards and man-made hazards in the world , but not every hazard becomes a disaster (Schwab , Eschelbach Brower , 2007 ,

2 . The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA ) has developed various programs to assist in identifying hazards before they turn into disasters , mitigating damages from these disasters including reducing the loss of life and property , and providing funds to States

, Tribes Territories who have been impacted by a disaster to assist them in the recovery process

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program

Mitigation can be defined as "any sustained action to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property from hazards and their effects (Schwab , Eschelbach Brower , 2007 ,

22 . The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP ) was established to maximize mitigation and develop the most cost effective and efficient mitigation projects possible . HMGP is regulated by Section 404 of the Robert T . Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act and provides grants to state and local governments to implement long term hazard mitigation programs after a disaster has occurred . The FEMA has authority over the HMGP . The purpose of the HMGP is to reduce the loss of life and property when a disaster occurs and to enable mitigation measures to be implemented immediately after the disaster has ended to assist in faster recovery . The mitigation grants offered by HMGP are available to States , Tribes , and Territories . Those jurisdictions , if eligible , will apply for a grant through FEMA and if granted , will provide sub-grants to local governments within the disaster area on an as needed basis Non-profit organizations may also be eligible to apply for a grant through the HMGP

HMGP funds may be used for a variety of projects , but those projects must serve to reduce the loss of life and property when future disasters occur . The project must provide a long term solution to a problem and the potential savings of a project must be greater than the cost of implementing the project . Projects may include acquisition of property retrofitting structures , elevation of structures in flood zones development and implementation of vegetative management programs , minor flood control projects that do not duplicate the flood control activities of other federal agencies , localized flood control projects and post-disaster building code activities

The most cost-effective and appropriate projects must be selected for development with HMGP funds . FEMA grants final approval on all projects that will be using HMGP funds . Local jurisdictions will submit their project applications to the State government (or the Tribe or Territory government . The State , Tribe , or Territory will then prioritize the projects received and forward the eligible projects to FEMA for approval . Since funding for the HMGP is limited , the projects selected must utilize the funds in the most effective way . The HMGP may provide a State , Territory , or Tribe with 7 .5 of the awarded by FEMA...