The Vision for Safer Communities in the Future describes a society that is fully aware of natural hazards and routinely takes action to reduce both the risks and costs associated with those hazards. Responsibility for accomplishing these objectives is shared by all levels of government and the private sector. Significant effort has been devoted to hazard identification. The NFIP has been identifying and mapping flood hazard areas since 1969, storm surge and wind decay models have been developed to characterize the impact of hurricanes, and efforts to produce increasingly more accurate maps depicting earthquake hazards are ongoing.
Risk assessment is a more complex undertaking.
It involves assumptions and calculations about magnitude, return frequency, and the potential physical and economic impact of natural hazard events in specific geographic settings, and the presentation of the results in terms that are useful to decision makers. Achieving the following objectives will provide the basis for public awareness and preparedness and for decisions on the appropriateuses for hazard-prone areas, both of which are integral to the Vision for Safer Communities. Within 1 year, complete a report outlining known hazard and risk information nationwide. Within 1 year, develop a plan for creating an inventory of existing structures in identified hazard areas to provide abasis for mitigation plans and priorities. Within 5 years, completethe inventory.