FEMA defines hazard mitigation as:
A series of actions and policies designed to reduce
and/or eliminate the impacts of naturally occurring
disasters on people and property.
The Town of Cumberland has hired the Horsley Witten Group, Inc. to update the 2017 Cumberland Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Why is this important? Hazard mitigation planning enables municipalities to identify risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural hazards and develop long-term strategies for protecting people and property from future hazard events. Further information is available on FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Planning page: http://www.fema.gov/hazard-mitigation-planning.
A hazard mitigation plan should be considered a living document that must grow and adapt, keeping pace with a community’s growth and change. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) places high priority on the continuation of the planning process after the initial submittal, requiring communities to seek and receive re-approval from FEMA in order to remain eligible for financial assistance.
The approach for this plan development is premised on four primary methods, all geared towards meeting the requirements of the DMA 2000 Public Law 106-390, October 10, 2000:
- Planning Process—Outreach and Stakeholder Coordination
- Risk Assessment—Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses
- Mitigation Strategy— Identifying Mitigation Actions and Implementation Strategies
- Plan Maintenance—Implementation, Evaluation and Revision/Update
Contacts
Jonathan Stevens
Town of Cumberland
Director, Planning and Community Development
jstevens@cumberlandri.org
(401) 728-2400 ext. 142
Craig Pereira
Horsley Witten Group, Inc.
Project Manager
cpereira@horsleywitten.com
(401) 263-6048