|
<br />
<br />~J-~jtl C) j J 8
<br />
<br />Hazard Mitigation and Sustainable Communities J-IL
<br />
<br />Hazard mitigation is not a new concept in North Carolina, In 1906, the City of
<br />Charlotte established a Drainage Commission to keep the drainage systems of the
<br />"Queen City" cleared of agricultural,related debris, and in the process, minimize
<br />nooding, In 1936, statewide building codes were enacted to regulate new construc-
<br />tion, In 1981, North Carolina was among the first states to adopt legislation to
<br />acquire coastal hazardous areas3
<br />
<br />In the 1990s, following a decade of unprecedented economic losses from disasters,
<br />the concepts and practices of mitigation are slowly becoming embedded in state
<br />and local government agencies, and increasingly in business and private sectors,
<br />
<br />In its purest form, hazard mitigation is an approach to development that recognizes
<br />the inherent tension or connict that exists between the forces of natural hazards
<br />and the nature and quality of the built-environment. North Carolina's hazards
<br />include extreme winds, storm surges, nash nooding, riverine flooding, and seismic
<br />impacts such as ground shaking and liquefaction, The built-environment includes
<br />land use patterns and practices that place people, property, and infrastructure at
<br />risk to natural hazards,
<br />
<br />The challenge for our communities - where most land use and mitigation decisions
<br />are made - is to achieve a balanced approach to development that promotes
<br />economic and social goals, while achieving hazard mitigation objectives As
<br />renected in the success story for the Town of Boone and other communities, these
<br />goals can be compatible,
<br />
<br />Beyond the built,environment, natural systems such as beaches and dunes, nood-
<br />plains, wetlands, and environmentally sensitive areas are increasingly factored into
<br />the mitigation equation, The City of Asheville is linking open space and park
<br />planning with a strategy to remove derelict buildings from the noodplain, This
<br />initiative achieves the two goals of the increasing green open space and reducing
<br />flood hazards,
<br />
<br />This example embodies the concept of sustainable development, which recognizes
<br />
<br />the limits of the earth's resources and the importance of managing development
<br />
<br />"in a manner that does not compromise the ability of future generations to meet
<br />
<br />their own needs, ,,4 Hazard mitigation is an important variable in the concept of
<br />
<br />sustainability. Communities can enhance sustainability by:
<br />
<br />. siting their buildings and infrastructure in areas that are not hazard-prone;
<br />
<br />using design and construction techniques that strengthen buildings and
<br />infrasrructure against the forces of \vind, v,,'ater, and ground shaking; and
<br />
<br />. conserving natural resources, including beaches and dunes. floodplains, and
<br />riparian areas, all of \....hich play important, stabilizing roles in the ecosystem.
<br />
<br />"""'*'11"1/0$,
<br />Hazard Mitigation Successes inthe State ,of North Cart?lina
<br />~ ' " 'HIII4I1H@0'S"#;,III_
<br />
<br />,,',: ;':'"""';"''/;0/44:;'*''0'';2_
<br />; '" ,;;"::"',"'III"+'4't:b;:,n",,:at0i'- - _
<br />
|