FEMA Mitigation Directorate
Fact Sheet
The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) made a significant investment in its Mitigation workforce and its ability to affect real change in practices that make the nation safer, stronger and more disaster-resistant. Over the past year, FEMA's Mitigation Division has been successful in getting disaster-resistance included in the nation's building codes and standards, training more inspectors than ever, and supporting communities nationwide through technical assistance and grants.
FEMA's four existing Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grant Programs awarded more than $1.4 Billion to more than 1,900 projects and plans nationwide in 2007. These projects will eliminate or reduce future damages from natural hazards to almost 6,500 private and public structures and the plans will guide the future mitigation activities for almost 400 jurisdictions in the years to come.
The National Flood Insurance Program now has a record 5.5 million property owners protecting themselves through flood insurance. There has been a nearly 18 percent growth in the number of new policies over the last two years and improved training for the agents has added to the success of the program. In the last year alone, some 44,000 agents have been trained nationwide to assist individuals and communities to participate in the program.
Also, the number of earthquake-prone jurisdictions which have adopted tougher, more disaster-resistant building codes, jumped 30 percent. And now, nearly two-thirds of the Nation's population is covered with an approved local mitigation plan.
Map Modernization is nearly completed, and once done, more than 92 percent of the nation's population will have digital flood maps. And because of the floodplain management standards of the flood program, an estimated $1.2 billion per year will be avoided in flood losses.
FEMA coordinates the federal government's role in preparing for, preventing, mitigating the effects of, responding to, and recovering from all domestic disasters, whether natural or man-made, including acts of terror.
Last Modified: Friday, 04-Jan-2008 14:48:14 EST