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<br /> <br /> <br />The long-term goal of the HMPI, another mitigation success, is to encourage and <br />empovver ~orth Carolina's cities, counties, and towns to become sustainable <br />communities.5 Such communities <br /> <br />may be characterized as those that <br />place disaster resistance high on the <br /> <br />public agenda, and make a concerted, <br />" <br />jj sustained effort to incorporate mitiga- <br />"'<c <br />8 E tion policies and programs into the <br />.~ ~ <br />E!" daily functions of government and <br />. " <br />o a.. business. <br />€~ <br />o 0 <br />Z E <br />~~ <br />o. <br />~~ <br /> <br />The following section provides a <br />framework of the major mitigation <br />tools and techniques that are used by <br />!'\orth Carolina's communities to <br />reduce natural hazard impacts' , <br /> <br />Downtown Asheville, Flood of /9/6. <br /> <br />Mitigation Tools and Techniques <br /> <br />The State of North Carolina Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (409 Plan) (1999), <br /> <br />developed by the North Carolina Emergency Management Division (NCENlD) in <br /> <br />collaboration with other state agencies, describes the slate's approach to pre, <br /> <br />disaster planning for sustainable, disaster,resistant communities, The report <br /> <br />identifies more than 135 specific "Recommendations for Action," including poli, <br /> <br />cies, programs, strategies, and mitigation plans, When implemented over time, <br /> <br />these actions will significantly reduce the impact of natural hazards throughout the <br /> <br />srate, In the process, the "409 Plan," developed in accordance with Section 409 of <br /> <br />the Stafford Act, has become an important strategic planning tool. It fosters <br /> <br />identification, analysis, and prioritization of mitigation projects and initiatives that <br /> <br />can be implemented in a phased, multi-objective approach, In a fundamental <br /> <br />sense, there are at least five interrelated ways to reduce potential losses from <br /> <br />natural hazards: <br /> <br />. Conduct comprehensive mitigation planning - the ongoing process of identify- <br />ing hazards and vulnerabilities. and developing plans and implementation <br />strategies to reduce the impacts of those hazards: <br /> <br />Avoid hazardous areas by directing neVi development and relocating existing <br />development to safer locations; <br /> <br />. Strengthen buildings and public facilities through building codes and engineer~ <br />ing design to increase the resilience of structures exposed to hazards; <br /> <br />.l'vlaintain natural environmental features. including dunes. maritime forests. <br />vegetation, and \vetlands that reduce flood, \vind, and \vave impacts; and <br /> <br />. Disseminate information - the process of communicating the "mitigation <br />message" to incorporate concepts into society's value system so that mitiga- <br />rion actions become a part of routines at home and in the \vorkplace. <br /> <br />~'~::~~~.'~~'::.~~'f.~":,: ;::" ., '.~~' =':~~~':::::::0* <br /> <br />August 1999 <br /> <br /> <br />Comprehensive Mitigation Planning <br /> <br />While some North Carolina communities have practiced mitigation for two decades <br />or more, what has been lacking is an "integrating rool" that links mitigation policies <br />and visions for improving the quality of life, The NCEMD IS addressing this void <br />