Hazards, Mitigation and Resiliency Planning

Question 1

Four overlapping phases of response and recovery.

Answer 1

Reconstruction Following Disaster by Haas, Kates, and Bowden (1977)

1. The emergency period covers the initial hours or days following the disaster when the community is forced to cope with losses in lives and property.
2. The restoration period covers the time following the emergency period until major urban service and transportation are restored, evacuees returned, and rubble is removed.
3. During the replacement reconstruction period, the city rebuilds capital stock to pre-disaster levels and social and economic activities return to their previous levels.
4. Finally, in the commemorative, betterment, and developmental reconstruction period, major reconstruction activities take place and future growth and development begin to take hold.

Question 2

Adaptation

Answer 2

The adjustment of human and natural systems in response to actual or expected effects of climate change.

Question 3

Major Disaster

Answer 3

defined as “any natural catastropheor, regardless of cause, any fire, flood, or explosion, in any part of the United States, which in the determination of the President causes damage of sufficient severity and magnitude to warrant major disaster assistance under the Stafford Disaster Relief Act.

Question 4

Emergency

Answer 4

“any occasion or instance for which, in the determination of the president, Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives and protect property and public health and safety, or lessen or avert the threat of a catastrophe in any part of the United States.”

Question 5

Hazard Mitigation

Answer 5

includes the actions taken to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards.

Question 6

Safe Growth

Answer 6

is a term for building environments that are safe for current and future generations, protecting buildings, infrastructure and the natural environment from damage

Question 7

Resilience

Answer 7

refers to the ability of a community to return to its original form after it has been changed. Often resiliency is used to refer to a community’s ability to recover from a natural hazard, economic shock, or other major events.

Question 8

Substantial Damage

Answer 8

means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost restoring the structure to its before damage condition would equal or exceed 50 percent of the market value or replacement cost of the structure before the damage occurred.

Question 9

Substantial Improvement

Answer 9

is any reconstruction, rehabilitation addition, or other improvements of a structure, the cost of which equals or exceeds 50 percent of the market value of the structure before the start of construction of the improvement.

Question 10

The planner’s role in hazard mitigation is

Answer 10

• to include haz mit in the comp plan
• raise community awareness for the haz mit
• be proactive and include hazmit in LU regulations
• Assess damage after disaster

Question 11

Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act

Answer 11

1988

The Stafford Act outlines four primary components of a state hazard mitigation plan, outlined in section of 409 of the Act:

1. An evaluation of the natural hazard in the designated area
2. A description and analysis of the state and local hazard management policies, programs, and capabilities to mitigate the hazards in the area
3. Hazard mitigation goals and objectives and proposed strategies, programs, and actions to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerability to hazards
4. A method of implementing monitoring, evaluating, and updating the mitigation plan; such evaluation is to occur at least on an annual basis to ensure that implementation occurs as planned, and ensure that the plan remains current

Question 12

The Stafford Act was amended in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000

Answer 12

which requires local governments to prepare and adopt hazard mitigation plans. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 focuses on prevention.

Question 13

How often should local mitigation plans be updated?

Answer 13

Every 5 years

Question 14

Under the NFIP floodplain management-planning category, communities can receive points for:

Answer 14

• Organizing and preparing a plan
• Involving the public
• Coordination with other agencies
• Assessing the hazard
• Assessing the problem
• Setting goals
• Reviewing possible activities
• Drafting an action plan
• Adopting the plan and implementing, evaluating and revising the plan

Question 15

1994, the National Flood Insurance Act

Answer 15

established the National Flood Insurance Program. The Program’s Community Rating System (CRS) is a voluntary incentive program that recognizes and encourages community floodplain management activities that exceed the minimum NFIP requirements.

Question 16

Silent Spring,

Answer 16

Rachel Carson was the author of Silent Spring, which was published in 1962. In the book, Carson examined the dangers of chemical pesticides, such as DDT, on plants, animals, and humans. The book greatly influenced the way people think about the environment.

Question 17

When was the first earth day?

Answer 17

April 22, 1970

Question 18

Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

Answer 18

Created in 1927 to created in the Colorado River Aqueduct

Built between 1933 and 1941. Ran water to LA.