Staff Representative: Eugene Henry
 Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. This is achieved through risk analysis, which results in information that provides a foundation for mitigation activities that reduce risk, and flood insurance that protects financial investment.
FEMA’s Mitigation Directorate manages the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and implements a variety of programs authorized by Congress to reduce losses that may result from natural disasters. Effective Mitigation efforts can break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. (Source: www.fema.gov)
In the last decade, increased attention and concern have been focused on the impacts of disasters. This is particularly true at the state and local level, where disasters have devastated communities, caused millions of dollars worth of damages, and impacted the economic viability of communities and regions for years after the events occurred (Florida Department of Community Affairs, 1998).
There are proven techniques available to communities that can reduce or eliminate the long-term impacts of natural hazards. These techniques -- known as Hazard Mitigation -- when undertaken before the next flood or hurricane strikes, lessen the likelihood that potential hazards will become disasters. Understanding hazard mitigation at the local level enables our community to lessen vulnerability to various hazards, which in turn, better supports the economic and social development goals. Through hazard mitigation efforts, there will be less business disruption, and less government financial outlay required in assisting businesses and citizens recover, repair public facilities and return the community to normal after a catastrophic event.
The Local Mitigation Strategy is a document that identifies potential hazards that may strike Hillsborough County and the Cities of Tampa, Temple Terrace, and Plant City. Additionally, the Strategy includes an assessment of the areas vulnerable to various hazards, and identifies possible actions that can mitigate potential damage in the future.
The County is required by the State to maintain a Local Mitigation Strategy per requirements referenced in Chapter 163, Part II, FS, and per requirements identified through the Florida Department of Community Affairs, Division of Emergency Management in order to receive pre-disaster mitigation grant funds.
The LMS recently received the required five-year update and was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on June 16, 2010. Public input is a key part of the process. Residents are asked to comment on any project currently listed in the Plan and suggest other projects not currently being considered.
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