Clancy Phillipsborn provided an overview of the key steps necessary for local communities to develop and implement viable mitigation programs. Second, they must recognize that there are solutions and that others have solved similar problems. Third, they must make a long-term commitment to this endeavor, provide leadership, and take ownership of the effort. Finally, they must take action by developing specific plans and teams to achieve their goals and objectives. One of the most important steps to building a successful mitigation program is to get people to acknowledge that they are at risk and to encourage them to take responsibility for reducing their vulnerability.
Incentives are key tools to get people to become stakeholders.
In addressing each of these components, the DRC model brings key community representatives together from the public, private, non-profit, and professional sectors. In doing so, the DRC engages these officials in partnerships to develop and implement long-term comprehensive strategies that are incentive based and have both definable objectives and measurable outcomes. Thus, relationship building and communications are critical ingredients of the DRC program. They are particularly important in generating support from the private sector which is vital to building viable and effective local mitigation programs. Finally, public and private mitigation partnerships require a long-term approach to be successful.