Hazard Mitigation Report Shows Benefits of Mitigation Strategies
Following a report released today by the National Institute of Building Sciences that found, on average, every $1 spent on federally funded hazard mitigation grants saves $6 in future disaster costs, FEMA released the draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy for public comment.
The draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy, developed by the Mitigation Framework Leadership Group (MitFLG) makes a series of recommendations, organized by six desired outcomes which – if met – could result in a nation better equipped for, and less vulnerable to, natural hazards. The draft Strategy provides a national approach to investments in mitigation activities and risk management across federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments and the private and non-profit sectors.
The MitFLG invites input about mitigation investment from all levels of government and key stakeholders, including private businesses, citizens, vulnerable and at-risk populations, critical infrastructure sectors, and non-profit, academic, and philanthropic organizations. Public comments on the draft strategy’s proposed outcomes–and how as a nation we can deliver those outcomes—is vital.
The draft National Mitigation Investment Strategy is available on the National Mitigation Framework website at: https://www.fema.gov/national-mitigation-framework. Comments on the draft will be accepted from January 11 through March 11, 2018, either through email to fema-nmis@fema.dhs.gov or through the IdeaScale site at: https://fema.ideascale.com/a/ideas/recent/campaign-filter/byids/campaigns/60968.
Earlier today, the National Institute of Building Sciences released the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: 2017 Interim Report. The study identified a savings of $158 billion in savings from federally funded mitigation grant programs funded from 1993-2016, and $15.5 billion from one year of building new construction beyond code requirements.
The independent study was directed by the National Institute of Building Sciences with funding support from FEMA and other governmental and non-governmental sponsors.
Visit https://www.FEMA.gov/blog to read Acting Deputy Administrator Daniel Kaniewski’s thoughts on Investing in Mitigation to Build a More Resilient Nation. Additional information on FEMA’s commitment to the National Mitigation Investment Strategy and building a culture of preparedness across all communities is available at: https://www.FEMA.gov.