Local Mitigation Strategy

As a result, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the states have developed national and state Mitigation Strategies and funding is becoming increasingly more available to support hazard mitigation efforts.

The advantages of developing a LMS include access to government funds for hazard mitigation projects, the provision of protective information to local officials, residents, and businesses, and the protection of an area's population, property, infrastructure, economy, environment, and quality of life.

Actions and their implementation expenses can be justified through the vulnerability assessment section of the strategy, which documents the types of damages and other impacts that hazards have had, or could cause in the future, within the planning area.

Finally, mitigation initiatives must accurately reflect the community's needs—what is politically, legally, economically, and technically feasible and sufficiently equitable in socioeconomic terms.

The working group assigned to develop the strategy can help assure that local needs are incorporated in the mitigation initiatives.