1. Identify and Assess Risk Mitigation Measures
Session 16 Slide Deck
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2. Objectives 16.1 Discuss Potential Risk Mitigation Options.
16.2 Discuss the Concept of Risk Transfer in the Form of Insurance.
16.3 Discuss the Procedures and Techniques for Identifying Potential Risk Mitigation Options.
16.4 Explain Mitigation Evaluation and Discuss Why It Is Needed.
16.5 Discuss the STAPLEE Method of Assessing Mitigation Options.
16.6 Discuss the Factors Involved in Assessing Risk Mitigation Options.
16.7 Discuss One Example of a Method for Selecting and Prioritizing Risk Mitigation Options.
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3. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Prevention
Planning and zoning
Building codes
Capital improvement programs
Open space preservation
Storm water management regulations
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4. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Property Protection
Acquisition
Elevation
Relocation
Structural retrofits
Storm shutters
Shatter-resistant glass
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5. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Public education and Awareness
Outreach projects
Real estate disclosure
Hazard information centers
School-age and adult education programs
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6. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Natural Resource Protection
Sediment and erosion control
Stream corridor restoration
Watershed management
Forest and vegetation management
Wetland restoration and preservation
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7. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Emergency Services
Warning systems
Emergency response services
Protection of critical facilities
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8. Six Categories of Mitigation Actions
Structural Projects
Dams
Levees
Floodwalls
Seawalls
Retaining walls
Safe rooms
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9. Identifying Appropriate Mitigation Options
Which actions can help us meet our mitigation objectives?
What capabilities do we have to implement these actions?
What impacts (if any) will these actions have on our community?
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10. Insurance
Insurance is defined as, “A promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment” (InvestorWords.com, 2003)
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11. Insurance Components Premiums Claims Deductibles Forms of Insurance:
Auto insurance
Health insurance
Disability insurance
Life insurance
Flood insurance
Earthquake insurance
Terrorism insurance
Business insurance
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12. How Insurance Works Account for all policy holders
Cost of compensating policy holders
Administrative costs
Specific definition of risk to individuals
Profits
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13. Insurance Coverage
Most property owners and renters in the United States have some form of insurance that protects either the structure itself, the contents of the structure, or both.
However, this coverage is often limited, with specific preclusions against certain natural and technological disasters.
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14. Catastrophic Policies
Policies for specific catastrophic hazards can be purchased separately from basic insurance homeowners’ or renters’ policies, or as riders to these policies.
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15. Adverse Selection
Only those people who are likely to suffer the specific loss defined in the policy are likely to purchase that type of policy, creating the need for much higher premiums than if the specific hazard policy were spread across a more general population.
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16. Adverse Selection
Methods adopted to address the problems associated with adverse selection.
The inclusion of these disasters in basic/comprehensive homeowner and renters’ policies, regardless of exposure or vulnerability.
The introduction of government backing on insurance coverage of catastrophic events.
Heavier reliance on international reinsurance companies.
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17. Insurance Advantages
Victims are guaranteed a secure and predictable amount of compensation for their losses.
Losses are distributed in an equitable fashion, protecting many for only a fraction of the cost each would have individually incur if exposed to hazards.
Insurance can actually reduce hazard impact by encouraging policy holders to adopt certain required mitigation measures.
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18. Limitations on Hazard Insurance
Insurance can be unavailable in high risk areas.
Participation in insurance plans is voluntary.
Participation has been known to encourage irresponsible behavior.
Many companies are pulling out of specific disaster insurance plans.
Catastrophic losses can cause inequitable premium increases.
Some see insurance as redistributing losses rather than actually eliminating exposure to the hazard.
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19. Identify alternative mitigation actions
Review existing literature and resources
Publications and websites
FEMA Worksheets (See Handouts 16-1 and 16-2)
Individuals:
Geologists
Seismologists
Hydrologists
Floodplain managers
Emergency Managers
Fire Marshals
Public works engineers
Transportation engineers
Civil engineers
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20. Identify alternative mitigation actions
Solicit public opinion and input
Surveys
Collect valuable information
Establish rapport and foster involvement among citizens
A survey or questionnaire can be:
Included in a utility bill
Conducted door-to-door
By phone
Posted on a community website
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21. Identify alternative mitigation actions
Solicit public opinion and input
Survey should ask for information such as:
The residents’ understanding of what is currently being done to address hazards.
What residents think is lacking in current efforts and what could be improved upon.
Suggestions and preferences of proposed mitigation actions.
Which of your mitigation goals and objectives do residents feel are most important to pursue.
Survey cost and use of volunteers
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22. Identify and analyze state and local mitigation capabilities
Review and analysis state and local programs:
Types of mitigation actions that may be prohibited by law.
Limitations that may exist on undertaking actions.
The range of local and/or state administrative, programmatic, regulatory, financial and technical resources.
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23. Identify and analyze state and local mitigation capabilities
Review the state capability assessment:
Resources
What can’t be done
Negative implications
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24. Complete a local capability assessment
Feasible in terms of your government's legal, administrative, fiscal, and technical capacities
Responsible local government agencies, departments, and offices
Indirect effect on your mitigation program
Interview department or division heads in your local government
Evaluate existing actions and capacities
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25. Assess Mitigation Options
Match the community’s needs
Satisfy the specific mitigation objectives
Change some component of either the physical or social fabric of a community
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26. Community Context Affect different populations differently
Cost different amounts
Affect the environment to differing degrees
Factors:
Social
Technical
Administrative
Political
Legal
Economic
Environmental
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27. DMA 2000 Identification Evaluation Prioritization
Special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized
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28. Assessment of risk mitigation options
Technical experts have selected because they will solve or alleviate the problem.
How do community leaders choose between them?
Isolate the problem.
Imbedded in what the community is already doing.
Standard set of decision criteria.
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29. STAPLEE method Social Technical Administrative Political Legal
Economic
Environmental
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30. STAPLEE Criteria Social Socially accepted
Public is instrumental in guiding decisions
Effect population
Information sources:
Local elected officials
Community development staff
Planning board
General public
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31. STAPLEE Criteria Technical Technically feasible Reduces losses
Secondary effects
Degree of help
Information sources:
Town engineer
Public works staff
Building department staff
FEMA Guide
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32. STAPLEE Criteria Administrative
Community’s capabilities for carrying out the projects
Staffing
Funding
Maintenance
Community resources
Outside resources
Community authority to spend
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33. STAPLEE Criteria Political Mitigation actions are political
Local and state leadership
Insight into the level of political support
Current elected officials
Information sources:
Board of Supervisors
Mayor
City Council
City Administrator
City Manager
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34. STAPLEE Criteria Legal
Legal authority in order to be lawfully conducted
Enabling legislation
Responsible unit of government
Information source:
Community Legal Counsel
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35. STAPLEE Criteria Economic Cost-effective Affordable
General obligation bonds
Alternative (outside) source or sources
Economic aspects
Information sources:
Community managers
Economic development staff
Assessor’s office
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36. STAPLEE Criteria Environmental
Mitigation measures affect the natural environment
Benefits to the environment
Environmental factors
Information sources:
Local health department
Conservation commissions
Environmental or water resources agency
Building officials
Environmental groups
Fish and game commissions
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37. Impact of risk mitigation options
Housing
Business sector
Infrastructure
Community capital building and maintenance plans
Economy
Environment
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38. Assessing identified risk mitigation actions
Impact in reducing the identified risks and vulnerabilities in the community
Probability that each action will be implemented
Funding and leveraging of resources
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39. Potential Risk Mitigation Options
Prevention
Property Protection
Public Education and Awareness
Natural Resource Protection
Emergency
Structural Projects
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40. Assessing Risk Reduction Measures
Reduced number of deaths and injuries
Reduced property damage
Reduced economic loss
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41. Assessing Risk Reduction Measures
Reduced number of deaths and injuries from future events
Prevention - restrict people from living in high-risk areas
Property Protection – acquisition and relocation of structures
Public education and awareness –alerting people to stay away for high risk areas
Natural Resource Protection – Natural habitats provide protection and can reduce casualties
Emergency services – Search and rescue, swift water rescue and evacuation orders
Structural projects - flood protection and tornado safe rooms
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42. Assessing Risk Reduction Measures
Reduced property damage
Prevention – Restricting development in high-risk areas
Property protection - Removing structures located in high-risk areas
Public Education and Awareness – Informing individuals and businesses
Natural Resource Protection –reduced property losses from hazard events
Emergency Services –protect and mitigate impacts on critical community infrastructure
Structural Projects – Dams, levees, dikes and seawalls designed to protect life and property
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43. Assessing Risk Reduction Measures
Reduced economic loss
Economic loss difficult to measure
New methods needed to address economic loss:
Diversifying a community’s economy
Assist small business to adapt
Institute entrepreneurial education curriculum
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44. Probability that each action will be implemented
Political support
Public support
Support from the business sector
Support from non-profit and interest groups
Cost
Long-term vs. short-term benefits
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45. Funding and leveraging of resources
Local funding source
State funding sources
Federal funding sources
Private funding sources
Leveraging resources
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46. Consensus Building Establishment of a planning team
Identification of community risks.
Risk mitigation options
Involvement of the public
Ongoing monitoring and review
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47. Four factors for prioritizing risk mitigation options:
Ease of implementation
Multi-objective actions
Time
Post-disaster mitigation
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48. Two common methods to rank actions
Multi-voting
Numerical ranking
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