Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness

Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness (U.S. Federal Programs: Advantages and Disadvantages)

The confrontations and prospects for the reduction of hazards/disasters have never been greater than in the current period. In theory, the challenge is to do away with all disasters that cause the loss of life or injury to people along with the property and environment damage. On the other hand, such a goal is not possible to achieve practically. Although it is possible to avoid certain risks but the elimination of environmental hazards seems to be an idealistic task (Smith, 2004, p. 268).

The evidence signals that there is a need to do more today for tomorrow. Though investment in hazard mitigation has increased, there are few signs that show the effectiveness of the sustainability plans. In United States of America, several plans are outlined that have lessened the number of casualties and scale of destruction (Smith, 2004, p. 268). In this research paper, federal programs available for hazard mitigation and preparedness and their advantages and disadvantages will be discussed in detail.

Mitigation

Mitigation is the effort and endeavors that are put to decrease the loss of life and damage of property by reducing the hazards/disasters impact. These efforts are assisted and accomplished through risk analysis. Such an analysis of risk provides important information that makes it easier to organize mitigation activities for reducing risk. It also provides information that is helpful for flood insurance that secures pecuniary investment ("Mitigation," 2011). The activities included in mitigation are:

1. Acting in accordance with the NFIP floodplain management policies

2. Implementation of rigorous building systems, flood-proofing supplies, seismic design codes, and wind-bracing supplies for new building construction or repairing

3. Taking on zoning ordinances that maneuver development away from areas subject to violent water flow after flooding, storm surge or coastal attrition

4. Retrofitting municipal buildings so that they can resist strong cyclonic winds or ground shaking

5. Getting hold of the smashed homes or industries in flood-prone areas and then putting the structures somewhere else and returning the property for recreational, personal or business uses

6. Building public shelters and protected rooms to save people from harm in their homes, offices and schools in hazard-prone vicinities ("Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA)," 2011)

Disaster management is the bedrock to prepare for an emergency. The agencies can take important steps to avoid the prospected threats if mitigation is done properly. Along with physical mitigation, financial mitigation is also extremely important for the safeguard of the residents of a community and for the recovery of their functions (Edwards & Afawubo, 2008).

The members of the business community who generate tax and fee as revenue regard mitigation as most important for them. It is an important part of community recovery that these members have the capabilities to stabilize and soothe their businesses. It has been reported by USA Today that between the disaster of Katrina and 2006's 4th quarter, 7,900 businesses in southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans, were shattered. If pre-disaster efforts at mitigation are conducted, there is a high chance that the businessmen remain stable even after the disaster (Edwards & Afawubo, 2008).

Preparedness

According to the National Incidence Management System (NIMS), Preparedness is "a continuous cycle of planning, organizing, training, equipping, exercising, evaluating, and taking corrective action in an effort to ensure effective coordination during incident response" ("Preparedness," 2010). Preparedness is exceedingly important for prevention, response, recovery and mitigation. It helps individuals and societies to act against natural hazards, terrorist activities and human-assisted disasters.

What is FEMA?

The United States of America is exceptional in developing extensive monetary assistance programs for areas prone to disasters or hit by a hazard. Financial assistance is provided for particular resurgence activities through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to the communities that apply for and obtain presidential disaster declarations. The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Small Business Administration also have disaster assistance programs (Edwards & Afawubo, 2008).

There are many forms that a disaster can take; earthquakes, hurricanes, cyclones, whirlwinds, tornadoes, fire, twisters, floods, hazardous leakages, terrorist activities, volcanic eruptions etc. Millions of Americans face the fury of nature annually and experience the catastrophic consequences of unwarned disasters ("About FEMA," 2011).

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is working as a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security since 2003. Its mission is to support American citizens and first responders to make certain that the nation works together against the disasters that can strike anywhere at any time without warning. It is FEMA's responsibility to guarantee that the citizens work collectively to assemble, uphold and perk up their "capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards" ("About FEMA," 2011). The Department of Homeland Security and FEMA work mutually to guarantee the mitigation and hazard preparedness by postulating strategies and adequate plans. They also ensure the validation of all the plans and policies. Both the cooperating partners also define basic facilities that are needed to address various threats. They do so by endowing the local authorities with resources and technical assistance. Thus, their fundamental aim is to amalgamate and harmonizing preparedness efforts all the way through the 50 United States ("Preparedness," 2010).

According to the October 2011 statistics, there are 7,474 people who are working nationwide as FEMA employees. Their work is to provide support to the fellow American citizens in order to prepare them for dealing mutually with any forthcoming natural or human hazard. The FEMA workforce is spread all through the country; at its Headquarters, 10 regional offices, the National Emergency Training Center, Center for Domestic Preparedness/Noble Training Center and various other areas. All these working units are established on a national level in order to support the larger disaster supervision team. FEMA is not a group in itself. In fact, it is the part of a huge team that includes federal partners (public and private non-profit agencies), state, tribal and local officials and the common man ("About FEMA," 2011).

FEMA's 4 Steps to Emergency Management

4 steps of mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery have been recognized by FEMA to deal with the crisis management (Adams, 2002).

Mitigation efforts are described by FEMA as "those which try to eliminate or reduce the impact of a hazard, Such as the traditional lightning rod." These responsibilities are similar as those involved in any risk management program. In this case however, they are entirely focused on putting a stop to or curtailing the loss of cataclysmic events (Adams, 2002).

Preparedness is simply identifying the risk and after its mitigation, starting to prepare for the unforeseen and improbable. Preparedness involves steps that are taken to prepare for an unexpected natural or human attack so that in case it occurs, the human, material and fiscal resources are complete, prearranged, skilled and accessible (Adams, 2002). The Preparedness Cycle consists of certain components which collectively help a nation to be prepared for dealing with any imminent hazard/disaster. They are planning, organization and equipment, training, exercise and evaluation and improvement ("Preparedness," 2010)

Response simple means putting all the plans into action whereas Recovery is the phase that continues for a long time. The best example of recovery phase is the psychosomatic therapy of those who survive after a calamity and the families of those who lost their lives (Adams, 2002).

U.S Federal Programs for Hazard Mitigation

The long-term strategies to lessen the disaster losses in a community are supported by various mitigation plans. These plans help in rupturing the cycle of disaster damage, restoration/rebuilding and recurring devastation. In short, the planning process is as vital as the plan itself. Mitigation constructs an outline for risk-based decision making. This helps in diminishing loss of lives, assets, and the economy from expected disasters in future. Thus, hazard mitigation is the unrelenting action that is meant for reducing and purging continuing menaces to people and their belongings from both natural and human hazards ("Multi-Hazard Mitigation Planning," 2010).

Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA)

FIMA was founded on 29 November 1993. After its emergence, mitigation turned out as the keystone of emergency management. This was a unique incident as mitigation got historical importance in federal disaster assistance. FIMA's partners consist of an expansive continuum of stakeholders in central, state, tribal and local government and also in the private sector. Furthermore, professional associations and NGOs involved in public policy and administration, insurance, higher education, the building sciences, and urban planning are also included in FIMA's partners ("Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA)," 2011)

National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and several other programs that are sketched out to trim down future losses to houses, businesses, schools, civic buildings, and important conveniences from tornados, floods, fire, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and other natural disasters are managed by FIMA ("Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA)," 2011).

1. The National Flood Insurance Program

The Flood Insurance and Mitigation Administration (FIMA) administer and regulate the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Flood Insurance, Floodplain Management and Flood Hazard Mapping are the three components of the NFIP ("The National Flood Insurance Program," 2010).

Flood Insurance offers an alternative to disaster support. It assists in reducing the increasing expenses of repairing flood-damaged buildings and their contents. Floodplain management regulates to reduce the flood damages. The NFIP also categorizes the national territory and maps the floodplains. By mapping flood hazards, widespread awareness about the flood dangers can be created. Mapping also provides the important data that is required for floodplain management programs ("The National Flood Insurance Program," 2010).

2. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)

The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) is a federal program that assists the government in efforts to lessen the number of victims, injuries, and losses of property that are caused by earthquakes. It was established in 1977 by Congress. Four federal agencies (FEMA, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)) synchronize their complementary activities to maintain the program and put it into operation ("National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)," 2011).

The NEHRP agencies follow the goals of the program through mutual collaboration and the assistance of several partners. NEHRP's work includes researching, developing strategies and activities execution. The research is conducted to make the authorities understand the origination and factors of earthquakes occurrences. This knowledge helps NEHRP to develop plans, tools and techniques and other measures so that the catastrophic impacts of earthquakes can be reduced. This federal program also helps in assisting and endorsing the implementation of the devised measures. Thus, the buoyancy of earthquakes strengthens by implementing the proposed strategies in the earthquake-prone areas ("National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)," 2011).

3. The National Dam Safety Program

The Water Resources and Development Act of 1996 formally established the National Dam Safety Program though it has been functioning for about 30 years under FEMA. This program was started to safeguard the American citizens from dam failure. The partners in the program include states, federal agencies, and several stakeholders. It is a federally administered program for dam safety and it also promotes individual and community responsibility to save the dams ("About the National Dam Safety Program," 2010).

4. Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) is responsible for providing grants to all the 50 American States and the local governments. These grants are used to implement continuing hazard mitigation measures after the affirmation about an imminent disaster. The HMGP also assists in reducing the loss of precious lives and damage of property that are caused by the natural disasters. The immediate recovery from a disaster is also dependent on the financial help provided by the HMGP which enables the implementation of mitigation measures in such areas ("Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)," 2011).

5. The U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP)

NTHMP is a State/Federal partnership that was established in 1996. The main objective of this program is to lessen tsunami hazards along United States coastlines. The Paci-c States of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington put efforts to diminish tsunami hazards and NTHMP coordinates these efforts. NTHMP works with the three Federal agencies responsible for tsunami hazard mitigation. They are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) (Bernard, 2005).

Advantages of the U.S. Federal Programs for Hazard Mitigation and Preparedness

FEMA's mission to support the American citizens and first responders has been successful in achieving the desired goal of building, sustaining, and improving the nation's capability to prepare for, mitigate and recover from several hazards the nation has faced.

1. Mitigation lessens the loss of life and destruction of property and thus, helps to create safe r, securer and protected communities. For instance, 20,000 communities across USA adopted the meticulous building standards which has saved the nation about $1.1 billion on an annual basis in prevented flood smash ups.

2. Individuals who have adopted mitigation activities are now able to cater with and diminish post-flood disaster disorders. They now have the capability of recovering more rapidly from the disasters. It has been observed that less flood-damage was done to the homes that were built on NFIP standards. On the other hand, even if the flood damages the property, the homeowner's capital is protected by the flood insurance. The nation saw the authenticity of the insurance program in 2005; when more than $23 billion were paid after hurricanes debilitated the 200,000 residents of Gulf Coast.

3. The individuals and societies are supported economically as their financial impact is lessened. The Multi-hazard Mitigation Council has shown in a recent study that an average of $4 is saved for the society with just $1 spent on mitigation ("Mitigation," 2011).

4. About 20,000 communities throughout the country have involved themselves in the National Flood Insurance Program. In order to diminish any damage by future folds, these communities have adopted and enforced floodplain management ordinances. The National Flood Insurance Program, in return, provides federally-backed flood insurance to homeowners, renters, and businessmen in these communities. It is voluntary for the communities to participate in the NFIP ("The National Flood Insurance Program," 2010).

5. The purchasing of flood insurance by the landowners and the implementation of sound floodplain management requirements by the American communities has helped country to reduce flood damage by approximately $1 billion a year. Moreover, the buildings that have been constructed in flood-prone areas according to the standards provided by National Flood Insurance program suffer nearly 80% less damage yearly than the buildings that are not built in compliance with NFIP standards ("The National Flood Insurance Program," 2010).

6. National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) supports basic research to inflate American citizens' awareness of earthquakes and their impacts. National Science Foundation accomplishes the task of funding earthquake-related research. This research is conducted in the fields of earth sciences, engineering and social sciences. Post-earthquake survey teams work under NSF also to conduct empirical research. These teams visit regions that are affected by earthquake so that earthquake impacts can be documented. They also check the performance of the built environment and efforts that are done to response and recovery ("National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)," 2011).

7. Most of the dams in the United States, 79,500 in total, are regulated by the National Dam Safety Program ("About the National Dam Safety Program," 2010).

8. The U.S. National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (NTHMP) is one of the best federal programs initiated by the U.S. government. Any potential destructive tsunamis are promptly confirmed by NTHMP and it also reduces false alarms. The needs of people dwelling along the coasts are also met by the program. Local tsunami mitigation is also addressed by NTHMP. Important information regarding tsunami hazards is also coordinated and exchanged with the local authorities through this program. It also provides a strong backup for the state and local governments for long-term tsunami hazard (Bernard, 2005).

Disadvantages of the Federal Programs

The basic problem about the federal programs that run under FEMA is that they do not have a clear direction. In 1979 when FEMA was created, it was spending nearly half of its budget to prepare for a mission for a colossal nuclear attack. This operation handicapped the more pressing mission of natural disaster response. The programs under FEMA have always been in a jumble since they began. However, on the other hand, these programs are serving as a life-saver for the victims of disasters and that's all which matters. The victims that have suffered natural disasters in the last few years were surveyed about the performance of federal programs. About 80% of the victims who were asked about the capabilities and executions of FEMA and its programs approved the ways adopted by the agency (Franklin, 1995).

Programs that work Best: Financial Assistance

There are several kinds of federal programs in the United States that have benefited the victims of disasters tremendously. However, the programs that work best are the financial assistance programs that provide loans and aids to the sufferers so that they can stabilize their lives again as they were before the disaster.

Financial assistance programs work best for the disaster-impacted regions in the United States. FEMA provides financial assistance to the communities that apply for and get presidential disaster declarations. This monetary aid is provided for specific recovery activities (Edwards & Afawubo, 2008).

The Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S. Code [section] 5121 et seq. As amended) helps the disaster-damaged communities by providing finances for recovery through public assistance programs. The affected communities access these programs by state and local governments and nonprofits fulfilling governmental functions subsequent to a presidential declaration of a state of emergency or disaster (Edwards & Afawubo, 2008).