The mitigation strategy has three main required components: mitigation goals, mitigation actions and an action plan to carry them out. These items set the framework to identify, prioritize and act to reduce risk.
Mitigation goals describe what the community wants to achieve as a desired future state with the plan, see Figure 15. They are broad, long-term policy and vision statements that explain what the mitigation strategy aims to achieve. They are visions for reducing or avoiding losses from the identified hazards.
- Example goal: Minimize new development in hazard-prone areas, including areas possibly affected by dam and/or levee mis-operation or failures.
Mitigation actions are specific projects and activities that help achieve the goals. They are measures, projects, plans or activities proposed to reduce the current and future vulnerabilities described in the risk assessment.
- Example action: Amend the zoning ordinance to discourage development in wetlands, floodplains and inundation zones.
The action plan describes how the mitigation actions will be carried out. The plan tells how the actions will be prioritized, administered and tied into the community’s existing planning mechanisms. In a multi-jurisdictional plan, each community must clearly have actions specific to its vulnerabilities.
