Disasters can and do happen! 

Hazard mitigation planning is a critical step toward coordinated implementation of activities that will reduce future damages from events that we hope will never occur.  The process of preparing a flood mitigation plan or a hazard mitigation plan enables a community to develop a program of activities that can be implemented now, before a disaster strikes.  After evaluating the problems and considering potential solutions, the planning committee identifies the most appropriate and efficient actions for reducing future damages. 

Hazard mitigation plans are necessary to qualify for federal mitigation funding.  A countywide plan has been developed for each STC county and some municipalities have developed individual plans.  These plans should do more than fulfill a federal mandate and collect dust.  They are strategies for reducing risk, and as such, they should be implemented.  Each includes a plethora of valuable suggestions for making our communities more disaster-resistant.  Some of the proposed actions are projects for which grant funding is needed.  Many other recommendations can be integrated into existing operations and budgets to make our communities safer.

STC has provided leadership and technical assistance with the preparation of flood and hazard mitigation plans that fulfill planning requirements for federal assistance programs.  Tools developed for these planning efforts include a handout summarizing the flood mitigation planning process and a Flood Solutions Worksheet for evaluating alternative flood damage reduction techniques.