Natural disasters and their aftermath have long affected humans and the built environment. Hazard mitigation is about preventing or minimizing the physical, financial, and human impacts of natural disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) describes hazard mitigation as “sustained actions taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk from hazards and their effects.” While the region’s primary natural hazard is flooding, residents and businesses will be familiar with the impacts of drought, wildfire, severe winter weather, tornados, and high winds whether they rise to the level of a presidential-declared disaster or not. The Regional Commission supports our members in identifying strategies and projects both local and regional to reduce the loss of life and/or property due to these natural hazards. Our support of these efforts includes the five-year plan update and grant writing and administration for the FEMA grant programs that support mitigation work.
