1. Risk and Emergency Management Division Southside Hampton Roads Hazard Mitigation Plan

2. Risk and Emergency Management Division What is Hazard Mitigation? “mit-i-gate” 1: to cause to become less harsh or hostile. 2: to make less severe or painful. Hazard Mitigation Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards.

3. Risk and Emergency Management Division Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 Intended to facilitate cooperation between state and local authorities on risk reduction measures and to expedite funding allocation Revitalized federal planning requirements –Requires local communities to develop hazard mitigation plans to remain eligible for pre-disaster and post-disaster funding through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program (PDM)

4. Risk and Emergency Management Division Mitigation Advisory Committee Includes local government officials from across the region, along with representatives from other stakeholders such as the American Red Cross and the National Weather Service Project funded by HMGP grant funds (administered by Virginia Beach) Virginia Beach contracted with PBS&J to help facilitate preparation of the regional plan

5. Risk and Emergency Management Division Planning Process

6. Risk and Emergency Management Division Public Participation Public meetings held during plan development (October 18, 2005, in Suffolk, and Virginia Beach) Over 300 public surveys were returned Second public meetings held in conjunction with adoption meetings

7. Risk and Emergency Management Division Plan Outline Introduction Planning Process Community Profile Hazard Identification and Analysis Vulnerability Assessment Capability Assessment Mitigation Strategy Plan Maintenance Procedures Appendices (Including Mitigation Action Plans)

8. Risk and Emergency Management Division Hazard Identification Hazards Analyzed Natural Hazards  Drought  Earthquake  Erosion  Extreme Temperature  Flood (100-year and Storm Surge)  Hurricanes and Tropical Storms  Landslide  Lightning  Sinkhole  Severe Thunderstorms  Tornadoes  Tsunami  Wildfire  Winter Storms

9. Risk and Emergency Management Division Hazard Conclusions HIGH CONCERN HAZARDS Flood (100-Year) Hurricanes and Tropical Storms Winter Storms MEDIUM CONCERN HAZARDS Tornadoes Severe Thunderstorms Lightning Flood (Storm Surge) Tsunami LOW CONCERN HAZARDS Wildfire, Drought Dam/Levee Failure Erosion, Earthquakes Extreme Temperatures Sinkholes, Landslides

10. Risk and Emergency Management Division Mitigation Goals Goal #1: Develop plans and studies that will support the implementation of techniques that will aid in the mitigation of natural hazards in the region. Goal #2: Conduct public education, outreach and awareness programs to help local citizens better understand hazard mitigation and ways to protect lives and property from the impact of natural hazards. Goal #3: Undertake cost beneficial structural projects across the region that will be beneficial to reducing the impact of natural hazards when they occur. Goal #4: Implement sound hazard mitigation policies into the framework of local government operations across the region.

11. Risk and Emergency Management Division Mitigation Actions Specific activities proposed by each jurisdiction –Consistent with regional mitigation goals –Based on hazard risk and local capability Intended to help reduce the impact of disasters on the jurisdiction List of potential projects for the future

12. Risk and Emergency Management Division Mitigation Strategy Wide Variety of Available Mitigation Techniques: –Prevention –Property Protection –Natural Resource Protection –Structural Projects –Emergency Services –Public Education and Awareness

13. Risk and Emergency Management Division Plan Adoption / Approval The final draft plan was submitted to the Virginia Department of Emergency Management in April 2006 Preliminary State approval was issued in May 2006, plan forwarded to FEMA for final approval Local resolutions to adopt the plan will be incorporated into the planning document

14. Risk and Emergency Management Division Plan Implementation & Maintenance Plan implementation involves the completion of proposed mitigation actions, including policies and projects Completion may be contingent upon funding –Potential funding sources are included for each mitigation action, if applicable At a minimum, the plan must be evaluated, updated and resubmitted to the State Hazard Mitigation Officer every five years

15. Risk and Emergency Management Division Questions?