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FEMA Case Study Library

Browse case study reports and best practice articles from across FEMA's areas of expertise. You can search by title or keywords, select additional content filters, or jump to a collection.

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Charting the Right Course: Using the Compass Tool to Integrate City Plans

Santa Cruz is a city of 65,000 people located on Monterey Bay on California’s central coast. The Pacific Ocean lies to the south and the Santa Cruz Mountains border the city to the north. This dynamic landscape makes the city vulnerable to coastal hazards such as storm surge, erosion and flooding, as well as mountain hazards of wildfire and landslide. Like most California municipalities, the city has several plans to address its vulnerability to these hazards.

Effectively Expanding Community Engagement

The Knox County, city of Knoxville and town of Farragut Multi-Jurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan avoided a one-size-fits-all approach by conducting extensive public outreach and engagement efforts. These Tennessee communities used the planning process itself as an educational tool to help community members learn more about their risks and mitigation efforts.

Long-term Dedication to Reducing Risks

Lummi Indian Reservation, Washington – The Lummi Nation’s hazard mitigation planning began with the 2001 Flood Damage Reduction Plan. The Nation developed the plan to address ongoing flooding that turns a large portion of the Reservation, the Lummi Peninsula, into an island. The Nation formed a Multi-Hazard Mitigation Team to create a comprehensive and integrated plan that increases access to potential project funding. Over the last 2 decades, the Lummi Nation has experienced gaps in funding and resources to complete certain large-scale projects. Despite the gaps, the Lummi Nation continues to regularly review, update and implement their FEMA-approved hazard mitigation plan.

Preparedness Grant Effectiveness Case Study: New York City

In 2019, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a grant effectiveness case study in New York City, NY to understand how the city uses preparedness funds to increase its ability to prepare for and respond to terrorist attacks.

Loss Avoidance Study: Electrical Transmission and Distribution Mitigation

This report, Electrical Transmission and Distribution Mitigation: Loss Avoidance Study, assesses the effectiveness of completed electric system mitigation projects in Nebraska and Kansas affected by the ice and wind storms of December 2006 through January 2007.

Preparedness Grant Effectiveness Case Study: Washington

In July 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a preparedness grant effectiveness case study of the State of Washington (the state).

Preparedness Grant Effectiveness Case Study: Chicago

In August 2020, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) conducted a preparedness grant effectiveness case study with the City of Chicago Urban Areas Security Initiative (UASI).

Preparedness Grants Effectiveness Case Study: Idaho

In August 2020, FEMA conducted a preparedness grants effectiveness virtual case study with the State of Idaho. The purpose of this case study was to understand the role of FEMA preparedness grants in Idaho’s coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic response.

HWM Pilot Summary: Cities of Sacramento and Roseville, CA

This page highlights the Sacramento and Roseville, CA High Water Mark Pilot Project which took place on November 8, 2013.

HWM Pilot Summary: Nashville, TN

This page highlights the Nashville, TN High Water Mark Pilot Project which took place on May 9, 2013.