Decision Making in Mitigation Strategies

As mentioned in Week 3, mitigation strategies are short- or long-term measures to eliminate or significantly reduce the impact of a potential hazard. Although mitigation activities can reduce or eliminate threats, mitigation can create new hazards or increase the impact of certain types of events. Mitigation can also create a false sense of safety. For example, builders might be tempted to build in a flood plain if they think a levee or dam will protect the structures from flood waters. Equity issues can surface when approaching mitigation activities. For example, mitigation is often expensive and it can be difficult to garner funding for low socioeconomic areas that have less political influence and economic value. There are also social concerns that need to be considered. What assets in a community should be protected? What if flood plain buyouts consist of poor areas or neighborhoods? Is there another motive behind the buyout? Such questions need to be approached by emergency managers and communities with both sensitivity and a proper understanding of all impacts of mitigation. Because of the difficult decisions that need to be made when planning mitigation activities, it is important that individuals are motivated to advocate for needed mitigation in their own communities. For this Discussion, view the media in this week’s Learning Resources and review the scenario provided below. Consider the mitigation approach you might take. Also think about how you might motivate the community to take action to mitigate for future disasters. Scenario: A community needs to increase its tax base by encouraging the growth of business. The area of land selected for development is subject to 100-year floods (i.e., one event occurring within 100 years). You, as the emergency manager, have been asked to address the city council about possible hazard mitigation strategies.