AG 2002 08 19 (Regular) - Laserfiche WebLink

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4. Hazard mitigation activi~es designed to reduce or eliminate damages fi:om future hazardous events. These activities can occur before, during, and after a disaster and overlap all phases of emergency management. F. The Federal Emergency Management Agency defines hazard mitigation as "any action taken to eliminate or reduce the long-term risk to human life and l2roperty from natural and technological hazards. "Mitigation activities are ongoing and overlap all phases of emergency management. Hazard mitigation includes three types of activities: 1. Structural mitigation - constructing dam and levee projects to protect against flooding, constructing disaster-resistant structures, and retrofitting existing structures to withstand future hazardous events. 2. Non-structural mitigation - development of land use plans, zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and tax incentives and disincentives to discourage development in high- hazard risk areas. 3. Educational programs - educating the public about potential natural hazards, the importance of mitigation, and how to prepare to withstand a disaster. Any money invested in mitigation activities will reduce the future demands for funds needed for recovery, repair and reconstruction after an emergency situation. Mitigation efforts also include the conservation of natural and ecologically sensitive areas (such as wetlands and floodplains) which enables the environment to absorb some of the impact of natural hazard events. In this manner, mitigation programs help the county and its communities attain a level of sustainability, which protects the long-term economic and environmental health of the entire county. G. The concept of sustainable development has emerged in recent years as a means to emphasize the need to regain a balance between the man-made and natural environment. Sustainable development is defined as "development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Sustainable development centers on the type of development rather than quantity and is not intended to be a no-growth or slow-growth initiative. A community that has'employed mitigation techniques as part of its sustainable development planning makes itself more resistant to natural disasters and their impacts. H. The devastating impact of Hurricane Floyd in the eastern part of the state brought the issue of hazard mitigation planning, or the lack of it, to the attention of state and local governments. While the effects of Hurricane Floyd brought the need for hazard mitigation'into sharp focus for the citizens of North Carolina, it was Hurricane Hugo that had the most impact on Cabarrus County in the recent past. While relatively unaffected by Hurricane Floyd, Cabarrus County has been subject to other natural hazards that could be equally as. severe. The effects of the damage resulting from Hurricane Floyd in the eastern part of the state mirror those that could occur in Cabarrus County in the wake of a natural disaster. Businesses of all types, schools, and government were disrupted or destroyed. Farmers lost crops and livestock, plus damage to structures and equipment. The loss of homes, jobs, and the stress of the response and recovery efforts were severe social and psychological impacts on the people of the region. Draft Basic Plan v.3.1 -~-' ~ 2 1 July 2002