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<br />THE RESPONSE-RECOVERY CONTINUUM <br /> <br />There is no question that after a disaster, all levels of government must respond as swiftly as <br />necessary for the safety and welfare of those affected. It is during the later, recovery phase that there <br />must be a rational pause to avoid missing the many opportwrities presented, All mitigation is <br />meaningful only in the context of the hazard looming somewhere in the future. Science can reasonably <br />assure us of the locations of flood hazard areas that, in the absence of mitigation, will certainly <br />become the settings for future disasters, Therefore, all efforts toward recovery must make an <br />intelligent assessment toward seizing mitigation opportwrities wherever they present themselves. <br /> <br />. Any taxpayer-funded disaster relief must be tied to requirements for mitigation. Some mitigation <br />is required as a condition of receiving relief under some programs now, and in some situations, <br />but it should be made a much more universal and stringent requirement (see discussion in <br />Partnerships and Incentives, above), <br /> <br />· The availability and amount of post-disaster frnancial assistance could be used to support National <br />Flood Insurance Program compliance, Two options include having communities require damaged <br />buildings to be upgraded to flood hazard mitigation standards as a condition of receiving disaster <br />assistance; and allowing communities to detennine permits and damage before providing <br />mitigation funds and other disaster relief <br /> <br />STATE ASSISTANCE PACTS <br /> <br />Mutual assistance pacts among states can improve national response by ensuring that trained <br />professionals are available to supplement an already-taxed federal staff. Some issues need to be <br />resolved before such pacts can be put into widespread use, Who authorizes and pays for the personnel <br />sent to another state? Will the Federal Emergency Management Agency modifY existing state <br />contracts for the production of plans and products? Who will bear the liability, if any, for the advice <br />and actions of local, state, and federal staff operating pursuant to a mutual assistance pact? <br /> <br />· As recommended by the Western Governors' Association's 1997 "Action Plan for Reducing <br />Flood Risk in the West," states should combine resources for disaster response by joining existing <br />emergency compacts or by forming new ones, Many states have already joined the Emergency <br />Management Assistance Compact first proposed by the Southern Governors' Association and <br />endorsed by the Western Governors' Association. There are also regional compacts, such as the <br />Southwest Caucus, and new forms of mutual assistance can be explored. <br /> <br />. States should adopt indemnification policies for professional engineers, code officials, and others <br />who volunteer their time and expertise during disasters. <br /> <br />INSURANCE <br /> <br />Insurance can be a useful tool in coping with flood hazards, primarily because it has the effect of <br />spreading the cost of flood damage to those who are bearing the risk. In addition, insurance can be <br />undertaken at the individual level, and has the potential, through premium reductions and other <br />techniques, to act as an incentive to adoption of mitigation measures. <br /> <br />Association of State Floodplain Managers <br /> <br />-39- <br /> <br />National Flood Programs in Review 2000 <br />