Session No. 40

Course Title: Coastal Hazards Management

# Session Title: Hazard Mitigation Planning IV

# Author: Anna K. Schwab, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

**Time: 50 minutes**

**Objectives:**

**Objective 40.1** Group 3 Presentation: "Assess Mitigation Capability,"
followed by class critique

**Objective 40.2** Become familiar with the fourth step in the
mitigation planning process: "Form Interim Conclusions (Acceptability
Assessment)."

**Objective 40.3** Become familiar with the fifth step in the mitigation
planning process: "Establish Values and Goals."

**Scope:**

Session 40 will begin with a student presentation on the third step in
the planning process: "Assess Mitigation Capability," followed by a
brief class discussion and critique.

The remaining class time will be devoted to a lecture on the fourth and
fifth steps in the planning process, "Form Interim Conclusions" and
"Establish Values and Goals," based in large part on the assigned
reading material: *Keeping Natural Hazards From Becoming Disasters: A
Mitigation Planning Guidebook for Local Governments*.

**Readings:**

*Student and Instructor Readings:*

NC Division of Emergency Management, Hazard Mitigation Section, Risk
Assessment and Planning Branch. May, 2003. *Keeping Natural Hazards From
Becoming Disasters: A Mitigation Planning Guidebook for Local
Governments*, pp. 63-67.

> (Available in pdf format from NC Division of Emergency Management:
> <http://www.dem.dcc.state.nc.us/mitigation/planning_publications.htm>)

FEMA. August 2001. *Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and
Estimating Losses*. Washington, D.C.: FEMA 386-2, "Afterword."

FEMA. April 2003. *Developing the Mitigation Plan: Identifying
Mitigation Actions and Implementation Strategies*. Washington, D.C.:
FEMA 386-3, pp. 1-1 through 1-13, "develop mitigation goals and
objectives."

## PowerPoint Slides

**PowerPoint 40.1** Step Four: Form Interim Conclusions

**PowerPoint 40.2** Call a Public Meeting

**PowerPoint 40.3** Step Five: Establish Community Values and Goals

**PowerPoint 40.4** Combine Mitigation Goals with Other Community Values

###### PowerPoint 40.5 Worksheet #4

##### PowerPoint 40.6 Tasks in Step Five

**PowerPoint 40.6** Task 5.1: Create a list of goal categories

**PowerPoint 40.7** Task 5.2: Review existing community goal statements

##### PowerPoint 40.8 Task 5.3: List New Goals

**PowerPoint 40.9** Task 5.4: List the hazard threats for each goal

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**General Requirements:**

The first 25 minutes of the session will consist of the student
presentation by Group 3 on the third step in the planning process:
"Assess Mitigation Capability." The Instructor will then lead a class
discussion and critique of the presentation for the next 5-10 minutes.

The remaining class time should be presented as lecture supported by
PowerPoint slides.

**Objective 40.1** Group 3 Presentation: "Assess Mitigation Capability,"
followed by class critique

**Requirements:**

The instructor should make sure that the students have access to all
equipment and materials needed for their presentation, such as
PowerPoint projector, overhead projector, white board, etc. The
instructor may wish to designate a time-keeper to make sure the
presentation is made within the amount of allotted time (25 minutes,
with about 5-10 minutes of critique by other students.

**Remarks:**

**Suggested questions** to pose regarding the presentation of Step Three
in the planning process:

1.  Does the presentation include a listing of local departments,
    agencies and organizations that have responsibility for mitigation
    activities or hazard control tasks? Are these responsibilities
    described?

2.  Does the presentation include a list and description of other local
    departments, agencies and organizations with a de facto affect on
    vulnerability?

3.  Are local mitigation initiatives, programs and policies described?
    Are other types of activities that are not directed toward
    mitigation but which could be used for mitigation purposes
    described, including unwritten or unofficial policies and practices?

4.  Does the presentation include a listing of state and local programs
    and policies that either support or hinder the local government's
    ability to mitigate against hazards?

5.  Does the presentation include a review of the legal opportunities of
    the local government to engage in mitigation?

6.  Does the presentation include a list of possible funding resources
    to carry out local mitigation initiatives?

7.  Does the presentation include a description of the local political
    environment as it pertains to mitigation?

8.  Is Worksheet \# 3 completed? Does it make sense based on the hazard
    identification information presented?

**Objective 40.2** Become familiar with the fourth step in the
mitigation planning process: "Form Interim Conclusions (Acceptability
Assessment)."

**Requirements:**

The content should be presented as lecture, supported by PowerPoint
slides.

The following slides will be used during this objective:

**PowerPoint 40.1** Step Four: Form Interim Conclusions

**PowerPoint 40.2** Call a Public Meeting

**Remarks:**

### Step Four: Form Interim Conclusions (Acceptability Assessment)

> **\[PowerPoint 40.1 Step Four: Form Interim Conclusions\]**

-   Thus far in the planning process, our Groups have identified
    potential hazards, assessed the vulnerability of the population and
    property within designated Geographic Planning Areas, and analyzed
    the community's capability to carry out a plan.

-   **Based on these analyses**, we can **form interim conclusions** as
    to whether to move ahead with the planning process.

    -   In other words, does the vulnerability level of the community
        warrant further action, and does the community have the
        necessary capability to lessen that level of vulnerability?

-   Step Four involves taking **realistic look** at the situation. The
    judgment call maybe different for some hazards or in some areas of
    the community.

    -   An **acceptable level of risk** may mean that vulnerability is
        low, and there is a low probability of that changing for the
        worse.

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-   In this case, the community may decide to **forgo any mitigation**
    activities.

    -   An **unacceptable level of risk** means that the community is
        vulnerable to the natural hazards identified and assessed.

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-   In this case, the community may be willing to **expend local
    resources** to improve the situation.

### Call a public meeting

> **\[PowerPoint 40.2 Call a Public Meeting\]**

-   At this point in the planning process, it is prudent to **call a
    public meeting**.

-   At this forum, the planning team can **get input and comment from
    community members** concerning mitigation priorities.

-   **FEMA** requires **documentation of public involvement** efforts
    during the planning process.

    -   Documentation may include descriptions or copies of publicity
        for the meeting, attendance, the agenda, etc.

**Objective 40.3** Become familiar with the fifth step in the mitigation
planning process: "Establish Values and Goals."

**Requirements:**

The content should be presented as lecture, supported by PowerPoint
slides.

The following slides will be used during this objective:

**PowerPoint 40.3** Step Five: Establish Community Values and Goals

**PowerPoint 40.4** Combine Mitigation Goals with Other Community Values

###### PowerPoint 40.5 Worksheet #4

##### PowerPoint 40.6 Tasks in Step Five

**PowerPoint 40.6** Task 5.1: Create a list of goal categories

**PowerPoint 40.7** Task 5.2: Review existing community goal statements

##### PowerPoint 40.8 Task 5.3: List New Goals

**PowerPoint 40.9** Task 5.4: List the hazard threats for each goal

**Remarks:**

#### Step Five: Establish Values and Goals

-   In the fifth step of the planning process, the community will
    **establish goals for hazard mitigation.**

> **\[PowerPoint 40.3** **Step Five: Establish Community Values and
> Goals\]**

-   Goals establish a **vision** of how the community wants to protect
    itself from natural hazards.

    -   Goals are **general statements** that set forth the
        **community's values or principles** that will **guide
        decision-making**

    -   Some goal statements will be **easy to formulat**e. Others may
        be more **controversial,** especially those that involve the use
        of private property or future development decisions.

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-   **Consensus** during goal formulation may be difficult, but it is
    ultimately worthwhile.

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-   Mitigation goals can be **combined with other community goals** to
    be more effective.

# \[PowerPoint 40.4 Combine Mitigation Goals with Other Community Values\]

-   For example, many other community concerns may overlap with hazard
    mitigation goals:

    -   improving water quality

    -   preserving open space

    -   protecting historical/cultural sites

    -   maintaining a stable economy

### Worksheet #4

###### \[PowerPoint 40.5 Worksheet #4\]

-   **Worksheet #4,** " Community Goals," can be used to **organize**
    the community's new and existing **goal statements** for hazard
    mitigation.

### Tasks involved in Step Five

##### \[PowerPoint 40.6 Tasks in Step Five\]

-   **Tasks** to be carried out to complete Step Five include:

> Task 5.1 Create a list of goal categories
>
> Task 5.2 Review existing community goal statements
>
> Task 5.3 List new goals to address vulnerability and mitigation issues
>
> Task 5.4 List the hazard threat each goal is to address

### Task 5.1: Create a list of goal categories

-   Goal statements should be tailored to meet local needs, but most
    usually fall into one or more general categories.

> **\[PowerPoint 40.6 Task 5.1: Create a list of goal categories\]**

-   **Categories** of Goal statements include:

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-   Address the community's level of **vulnerability in general**

-   Consider **future development** in hazard areas

-   Deal with **existing vulnerable buildings and infrastructure**

-   Set priorities for **redevelopment** should a disaster occur

-   Address **public education** **and outreach** about hazards and
    mitigation

-   Consider **natural resource protection**

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-   These broad categories can be listed in column one of Worksheet #4.

### Task 5.2 Review existing community goal statements

> **\[PowerPoint 40.7 Task 5.2 Review existing community goal
> statements\]**

-   Review local documents to find goal statements that support
    mitigation

    -   Comprehensive plan

    -   Capital improvements plan

    -   Emergency management plan

    -   Floodplain management plan

    -   Zoning/subdivision ordinances

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    -   Some existing goal statements may not explicitly mention natural
        hazards mitigation, but will complement mitigation goals

-   These goal statements can be listed in the **second column** of
    Worksheet #4

### Task 5.3: List new goals to address vulnerability and mitigation issues

##### \[PowerPoint 40.8 Task 5.3: List New Goals\]

-   Goal statements may not be found in existing documents that
    completely cover mitigation needs for the plan

-   **New goal**s may also be needed, or **existing goal statements**
    may need to be **modified**

-   New (or modified) goal statements can be listed in **column two** of
    Worksheet #4.

### Task 5.4: List the hazard threat each goal is to address

> **\[PowerPoint 40.9 Task 5.4: List the hazard threats for each
> goal\]**

-   **What is the hazard problem** that the goals listed on the
    Worksheet are to address? List these in the **final column** of
    Worksheet #4

-   The hazard threat can include the **type of natural hazard** that
    threatens the community, for example

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-   Flooding

-   Erosion

-   Hurricane

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-   The hazard threat can **also include where the** **goal is to
    apply** within the community.

### Sources for Goal Statements

-   Refer to **local documents** for goal statements to apply to hazard
    mitigation:

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-   Comprehensive Plan/Land Use Plan

-   Capital Improvements Plan

-   Zoning/Subdivision Ordinances

-   Stormwater Management Plan

-   Floodplain Ordinance

-   Emergency Management Plan

-   Transportation Plan

-   Historic Preservation Plan

-   Park/Open Space/Recreation Plan

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-   **Other goal sources**:

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-   Mitigation Advisory Committee

-   Citizen response

-   Elected officials

-   Local department heads

-   Federal and state mandates