Following a disaster, 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. 

 

 

 

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. 


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. 

MOVING FROM PLANS TO SOUND PROJECTS 

The Hazard Mitigation Grants and Planning Group 
supports local and State 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 local and State 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. 

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. 

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. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION 

Please visit www.fema.gov/about/divisions/mitigation to 
learn more about mitigation opportunities. 

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 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.