FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMET AGENCY 
Mitigation Directorate Fact Sheet
THE ROLE OF MITIGATION POST-DISASTER
Spring/Summer 2008

Following a disaster, the Federal Emergency Management Agencys 
(FEMAs) mitigation programs play a critical role developing and 
integrating disaster operations policies, procedures, and training 
under the National Response Plan. The Regional and Disaster Support 
Branch within the Mitigation Directorate acts as the coordination 
point for mitigation disaster operations and activities.
HAZARD MITIGATION FIELD OPERATIONS MISSION
The mission of hazard mitigation is to protect lives and prevent or 
reduce the loss of property from hazard events. Post-disaster, this 
is accomplished through comprehensive efforts authorized by the 
Stafford Act, as amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, the 
National Flood Insurance Act, the Flood Insurance Reform Act, and 
Executive Orders. FEMA hazard mitigation staff partner with State, 
local, and Tribal governments to:
? Assess factors that contributed to disaster effects
? Identify risk reduction opportunities
? Educate the public and local government officials in methods to 
reduce future risks
? Promote hazard mitigation community planning and project 
development that will result in sustainable community development
? Provide grants to fund hazard mitigation projects
? Assist communities in marketing the National Flood Insurance 
Program (NFIP)
? Provide technical assistance to State, Tribal, and local 
governments to utilize rebuilding as an opportunity for enhanced 
local codes and ordinances
? Identify and document proven mitigation actions and projects
? Quantify the benefits of hazard mitigation
HAZARD MITIGATION ORGANIZATIONAL ELEMENTS
Under the National Response Framework, Hazard Mitigation exists as a 
Branch under the Operations Section. The Hazard Mitigation Branch 
Director and management support staff are responsible for hazard 
mitigation field operations functions, which are carried out by four 
groups: Floodplain Management and Insurance, Hazards and Performance 
Analysis (HPA), Community Education and Outreach (CEO), and Hazard 
Mitigation Grants and Planning.
FLOODPLAIN MANAGEMENT AND INSURANCE
The Floodplain Management and Insurance group serves as the Joint 
Field Office (JFO) point of coordination and resource on flood 
insurance. The group also promotes community participation in the 
NFIP and ensures compliance with NFIP regulations, including sub-
damage requirements.

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MITIGATION CADRE
Mitigation deploys a cadre of staff to help coordinate and implement 
mitigation and insurance activities during disaster response and 
recovery. The Regional and Disaster Support Branch at FEMA 
Headquarters is responsible for managing the Mitigation cadre through 
staffing, training, credentialing, and catastrophic deployment
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HAZARDS AND PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS
The HPA group provides engineering, economic, and scientific analysis 
in support of hazard mitigation programs, and ensures that technical 
hazard mitigation information is available to all local, State, and 
Federal recovery partners. HPA is the focal point for data collection 
and analysis in support of hazard mitigation initiatives for all 
disaster services.
Functions performed by the HPA group include providing analysis of 
hazards and impacts, such as wind analysis, flood depth, inundation, 
and velocity studies. The group also conducts damage assessments and 
loss estimation analysis to identify hazard mitigation opportunities 
and benefit-cost data. This information is used to ensure that 
mitigation measures are cost-effective. HPA also works with other JFO 
groups to share and coordinate disaster geospatial data and technical 
products.
HPA supports Section 406 of the Stafford Act, which authorizes FEMAs 
Public Assistance (PA) Program. Through the PA Program, FEMA provides 
supplemental Federal disaster grant assistance for the repair, 
replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged, publicly owned 
facilities and the facilities of certain Private Non-Profit 
organizations.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION AND OUTREACH GROUP
The CEO group promotes effective hazard mitigation through community 
education, outreach, training, and coordination with the public and 
private sectors. This is accomplished by providing advice to the 
public on hazard mitigation techniques and measures through Disaster 
Recovery Centers (DRCs), other disaster assistance facilities, 
community meetings, and special events.
MOVING FROM PLANS TO SOUND PROJECTS
The Hazard Mitigation Grants and Planning Group supports State and local 
participation with programs authorized by Section 404 of the 
Stafford Act (Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)) and Section 322 
of the Disaster Mitigation Act (mitigation planning). This support 
includes assistance to State and local entities in development of 
multi-hazard mitigation plans and utilization of hazard mitigation 
funding from the HMGP to reduce the loss of life and property from 
future hazard events. In addition, the group provides technical 
assistance for the development, maintenance, and updating of State 
and local hazard mitigation plans.
In cooperation with the State, the CEO group promotes partnerships 
and training of local officials, the construction industry, and 
residential and commercial building owners. In partnership with 
External Affairs, they also identify, document, and disseminate Best 
Practices, which illustrate a variety of sound and effective 
mitigation measures.
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BEST PRACTICES PORTFOLIO
Part of Mitigations role during disaster operations is to identify, 
collect, document, and disseminate Best Practices and case studies. 
The Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio, located on FEMAs website 
at: http://www.fema.gov/mitigationbp/index.jsp, highlights the ideas, 
activities, projects, and funding sources that help reduce or prevent 
the impacts of disasters. Visitors to the website may search for Best 
Practices based on Region or disaster type, and may also submit Best 
Practices from their own community, Region, or State
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FOR MORE INFORMATION 
Please visit: http://www.fema.gov/about/divisions/mitigation to learn 
more about mitigation opportunities