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Hazard Mitigation Planning Resources

• Mitigation Planning "How-To" Guides
• Mitigation Fact Sheets
• Mitigation Grant Programs
• Sustainability in Mitigation Planning
• Planning Advisory Service Reports
• Disaster-Resistant Universities
• Planning for Human-Caused Hazards
• Federal Partners

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Mitigation Planning "How-To" Guides

These guides explain specific planning topics in and provide adaptable tools to meet or exceed FEMA's requirements.

1. Getting Started: Building Support For Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-1)
2. Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards And Estimating Losses (FEMA 386-2)
3. Developing The Mitigation Plan: Identifying Mitigation Actions And Implementing Strategies (FEMA 386-3)
4. Bringing the Plan to Life: Implementing the Hazard Mitigation Plan (FEMA 386-4)
5. Using Benefit-Cost Review in Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-5)
6. Integrating Historic Property and Cultural Resource Considerations into Hazard Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-6)
7. Integrating Manmade Hazards Into Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-7)
8. Multi-Jurisdictional Mitigation Planning (FEMA 386-8)
9. Using the Hazard Mitigation Plan to Prepare Successful Mitigation Projects (FEMA 386-9)

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Mitigation Fact Sheets

• Mitigation Planning Fact Sheet
• Tribal Mitigation Planning Factsheet

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Mitigation Grant Programs

State, Indian Tribal, and local governments are required to develop hazard mitigation plans as a condition for receiving certain types of non-emergency disaster assistance. Grant programs with mitigation plan requirements include:

• Stafford Act Grant Programs
  • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
  • Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) Program
  • Public Assistance (PA) Grant ProgramFire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) Program

• National Flood Insurance Act Grant Programs
  • Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) Program
  • Repetitive Flood Claims (RFC) Program
  • Severe Repetitive Loss (SRL) Program

A Sample Scope of Work for Mitigation Planning Grants may be downloaded from the FEMA Library.

Please visit the Mitigation Grant Programs page for more information on the specific plan requirements for the various mitigation grant programs, as well as FEMA funds available for mitigation plan development and mitigation projects.

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Sustainability in Mitigation Planning

• Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability (FEMA 364)
  
  
• Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework (FEMA 365)

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Planning Advisory Service Reports

The following reports were prepared by the American Planning Association (APA) and supported through contracts with FEMA.  Hard copies may be ordered through the APA Planners Book Service online or by phone at (312) 786-6344 (costs may apply).

• Hazard Mitigation: Integrating Best Practices into Planning (PAS 560) seeks to close the gap that exists between hazard mitigation planning and other local planning and regulatory land-use processes. It introduces hazard mitigation as a vital area of practice for planners; provides guidance on how to integrate hazard mitigation strategies into comprehensive, area, and functional plans; and shows where hazard mitigation can fit into zoning and subdivision codes.  Best practices in incorporating hazards into other local planning processes are provided for different hazards and demographics, and a Safe Growth Audit is included to show how any locality large and small can evaluate how well their communities' plans and regulations address hazards. 
• Planning for Post-disaster Recovery and Reconstruction (FEMA 421, PAS 483/484) is a landmark report for community planners for rebuilding and recovery after disasters and post-disaster reconstruction. It also guides development of a natural hazards element as part of a local, general, or comprehensive plan. Developed in partnership with APA.

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Disaster-Resistant Universities

• Building a Disaster-Resistant University (FEMA 443) is both a how-to guide and a distillation of the experiences of six universities and colleges that have been working to become more disaster-resistant. This guide provides basic information designed for institutions just getting started, as well as concrete ideas, suggestions, and practical experiences for institutions that have already begun to take steps to becoming more disaster-resistant.
  
  
• Building Partnerships to Reduce Hazard Risks (FEMA L-265) provides a brief explanation on the benefits to both universities and their local communities when they collaborate to reduce risks. Includes a list of public and private sector resources that provide planning assistance to academic institutions.

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Planning for Human-Caused Hazards

Please see FEMA's page on Terrorism hazards for more information.

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Federal Partners

• Environmental Protection Agency:  In 2010, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed the FEMA-EPA Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the two agencies to work together to help communities become safer, healthier, and more resilient. The two agencies will collaborate to help communities that have been hit by disasters to recover and mitigate in ways that protect the environment, create long-term economic prosperity, and enhance neighborhoods.  FEMA and EPA will also help communities incorporate smart growth and climate adaptation strategies to improve quality of life and direct development away from vulnerable areas.

Read about some of the joint FEMA-EPA projects on EPA’s Smart Growth web pages.

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Last Modified: Thursday, 10-Nov-2011 12:10:57 EST

References

• Mitigation Fact Sheets

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Government Links

• HAZUS-MH
• Flood Hazard Mapping
• U.S. Geological Survey

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