Mitigation Best Practices

BAY ST. LOUIS, MS – Storms shutters and other mitigation measures helped the Hancock County Senior Center survive Hurricane Katrina (2005) and serve as a safe haven for the members of the community for 88 days after the storm.

BENTON COUNTY, OR - Electrical power outages are a familiar experience when winter storms bring high wind, heavy snow, ice, and falling trees. All of these can cause severe damage to transmission lines, poles, and transformers.

PENSACOLA, FL – Pensacola was hit hard after Hurricane Ivan barreled down on the Gulf Coast in September 2004 when the storm knocked out Sacred Heart Hospital’s electricity.

The hospital was forced to rely on emergency generators, but their capacity was not sufficient to supply the entire building with air conditioning. The hospital remained functional but at reduced capacity.

LOS ALAMOS, NM - When John and Cindia Hogan bought their home in 1994, they did so knowing that a major wildfire might occur in the Santa Fe National Forest that backs up to their property. John Hogan, a physical scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey, and a trained, experienced firefighter, began taking steps to mitigate their home in 1996.

In 1996, John Hogan contracted to have a metal roof put on their two-story, wood frame

RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN – Although public awareness of disasters is heightened in certain months of the year, there is never a wrong time to prepare for disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides several publications that inform families how to prepare for disasters and rebuild after they strike. The Hazard Mitigation branch of FEMA promotes efforts and techniques to reduce the loss of life and property in natural disasters.

PARK COUNTY, MT- Park County experienced a record flood on the Yellowstone River in June 1996. The river maintained a very high flow for over a week, causing massive bank erosion and floods in a number of houses.

In June 1997, the Yellostone River produced another record flood. More bank erosion occured, and the same houses were flooded again. Both floods were on par with the 100- year, one percent frequency flood.

CAMRBIA, WI - Cambria, population 792, is one of many pleasant spots in the middle of Wisconsin corn country, about 33 miles north of Madison. It is quiet, clean, and well managed by experienced and energetic individuals. And, although no sign announces it, it is recognized by many in and around Cambria as the lima bean capital of the world. However, flooding is a common occurrence in Cambria’s history, as it is in many Wisconsin towns.

ALLEGANY COUNTY, NY – A mitigation project to protect a water supply pipe in Allegany County has likely paid for itself at least three times since it was completed.

Severe storms and flooding in the spring of 2000 caused the rupture of a water main that crosses under Houghton Creek in the Town of Caneadea. The main carries water from the town’s filtration plant to its water tower, supplying Houghton College and town residents.

The President approved the use of federal disaster funds to help New York recover from the effects of the storms.

LAWRENCE COUNTY, TN – Plagued with floods for nearly 200 years, Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, a city with approximately 11,000 residents, has had its share of flood damage to homes, roads, and public buildings. After seven presidentially declared disasters, an annual average of 60 inches of rainfall, and millions of dollars in flood damages, the city officials decided enough is enough, and took action to control the flooding.

GRAPEVINE, TX – Oak Grove Park’s Ballfield Complex, located in Grapevine, Texas, was built in the 1960s and is home to local baseball and soccer teams. Over the years, surface water resulting from inadequate drainage along with additions to the park caused flood and maintenance issues and posed problems for pedestrians.