Discussion Forum 1 Module 1
“Introduction to Hazard Mitigation”
Explain the Role of Mitigation in the Emergency Management Cycle.
Nemeth (2017) explained that mitigation entails taking preventative measures to avert
threats or catastrophes. Additionally, Nemeth (2017) asserts that appropriate mitigation
strategies can interrupt the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeating harm.
Updating building codes and construction designs represent implementing mitigation measures
to prevent future injury to structural property. For example, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency [FEMA] (2014) sent a mitigation assessment team [MAT] to New Jersey and New York
to assess Hurricane Sandy's damage. As a result, the MAT advised that residential and
commercial structures be elevated at two feet above the basic flood elevation level.
Additionally, the MATT proposed revising fire, electrical, and mechanical codes in flood-prone
locations to relocate and protect building systems, cables, and fuel storage (FEMA, 2014).
Describe the Process of Risk Assessment.
Islam and Jeffrey (2016) define risk assessment as a systematic procedure for
determining the potential for death, physical and economic injury, and property damage
occurring from hazards. The process is carried out by evaluating the vulnerability of individuals,
buildings, and infrastructures concerning various threats (Islam & Jeffrey, 2016). Additionally,
Islam and Jeffrey (2016) note that risk assessment is critical for determining the amount to which
injuries and damages occur and is the cornerstone of the mitigation planning process. According
to Islam and Jeffrey (2016), completing a risk assessment is four-step.
The procedure begins by identifying potential hazards affecting the community, profiling
the risks to indicate high-risk locations, conducting inventories of vulnerable assets to threats,
and estimating probable losses (Islam & Jeffrey, 2016). The use of the critically, accessibility,
recuperability, vulnerability, effect, and recognizability [CARVER] assessment tool can aid risk
evaluators to evaluate the attractiveness of a target (Nemeth, 2017). In addition, a modified
version of the CARVER evaluation technique can also assist risk evaluators in assessing an
attack's joint health, economic, and psychological repercussions on the populace (Nemeth, 2017).
How Do You Create a Risk-Based Mitigation Plan?
Islam and Jeffrey (2016) outlined four phases in establishing a mitigation strategy. These
processes include the formulation of objectives and goals, the identification and prioritization of
actions, the formulation and implementation of a plan, and the documentation of the mitigation
process (Islam & Jeffrey, 2016). In addition, as FEMA (2021) emphasizes, the planning process
for municipal and tribal governments must incorporate opportunities for public comment. As
Nemeth (2017) points out, communities are critical in adopting and monitoring a plan.
Additionally, communities can contribute to the plan's implementation, from implementing
mitigation measures to modifying how local governments operate daily (Nemeth, 2017).
Which Benefits Does Mitigation Provide?
Effective mitigation planning provides several benefits. Among these benefits include
the reduction of human fatalities. Additionally, effective mitigation planning enables local and
state governments to reduce the impact and cost of natural and human-produced hazards.
Finally, mitigation saves taxpayers money and builds resilient communities capable of long-term
economic and financial self-sufficiency.
How Well Do You Think we have done as a Nation so Far in Mitigation, and Why?
The United States has performed admirably well in terms of mitigation. Due to lessons
learned from previous hazards and disasters in its history, they have policies and processes to
protect their populace. However, the complexities of the present world, such as rising cyber-
threats, do not allow for complacency. According to McEntire (2019), if a terrorist gains access
to a computer, they can disseminate viruses and trojan horses, wreaking havoc on infrastructures
connected via the internet and computer network systems.
From a biblical perspective, Satan represents the most significant risk to our salvation.
Satan implements physical and non-physical instruments into our lives to distract our attention
from God. In addition, Satan attempts to persuade our minds by tempting us to engage in actions
harmful to ourselves, loved ones, others, and society in general. To mitigate the temptations of
Satan, Ephesians 6:11 reads, "Put on the full armor of God, so that you can resist the devil's
schemes" (English Standard Version, 2016).
References
English Standard Version (2016). BibleGateway.com; Crossway Bibles. English Standard
Version (2016). BibleGateway.com; Crossway Bibles.
www.biblegateway.com/versions/English-Standard-Version-ESV-Bible/#booklist
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. (2014, November). Building Science
Support and Code Changes Aiding Sandy Recovery Hurricane Sandy Recovery: Fact
Sheet No. 3. FEMA.Gov.
https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_building-science-support-code-
changes-sandy.pdf
Federal Emergency Management Agency [FEMA]. (2021, January 15). Hazard Mitigation
Planning Process. FEMA.Gov. Retrieved March 17, 2022, from
https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/risk-management/hazard-mitigation-
planning/create-hazard-plan/process?msclkid=56345d84a61a11ecb8ab38e5cae5c47d
Islam, T., & Jeffrey, R. (2016). Hazard Mitigation in Emergency Management (1st ed.).
Butterworth-Heinemann.
McEntire, D. A. (2019). Introduction to Homeland Security: Understanding Terrorism
Prevention and Emergency Management (2nd ed.). Wiley.
Nemeth, C. P. P. (2017). Homeland Security: An Introduction to Principles and Practice, Third
Edition (3rd ed.). CRC Press.
