Hazard Mitigation Plan Update

Hazard mitigation planning, the effort to reduce or eliminate the risks from hazards to people and property, is the first of the four phases of risk management. It is followed by preparedness, response, and recovery.  Although the mitigation planning stage of risk management often gets the least attention, it is one of the most important steps in creating a disaster-resistant community.

The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) amended the Stafford Act to reinforce the importance of mitigation planning and emphasize planning for disasters before they occur.  States and communities must have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP) to be eligible to apply for and receive FEMA hazard mitigation funds which are critical to many of the Parish’s initiatives.

Benefits of Mitigation Planning

Hazard mitigation planning help communities reduce their risk from hazards by identifying vulnerabilities and developing strategies to lessen and sometimes even eliminate the effects of the hazard. Some of the benefits of mitigation planning are as follows:

  • Leads to identification, selection, and prioritization of risk-reduction actions. Hazard mitigation planning is a systematic process of learning about the hazards that can affect the Parish; setting clear goals; and identifying policies, programs, and actions that reduce losses from disasters.
  • Builds partnerships. The Parish strives to bring together a broad range of stakeholders to achieve a common vision and reduce duplication of efforts among organizations with similar or overlapping goals.
  • Creates a more sustainable and disaster-resistant community. There is an intrinsic link between the concept of natural hazard risk reduction and sustainability. An essential characteristic of a sustainable community is its resilience to disasters.
  • Informs funding priority setting. The mitigation planning process will consider potential funding sources for each project and develop cost estimates where feasible.  
  • Increases public awareness of natural hazards. Mitigation planning provides a venue to help all stakeholders better understand the magnitude and number of threats to public health, safety, welfare, economic vitality, and the operational capability of critical infrastructure.

Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2023

Terrebonne Parish Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 2023 - Final