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Figure 1 Counties Affected by Hurricane Floyd 2 Affected Counties rn1 Minor Damage II Moderate Damage . Major Damage . The recognition that disasters directly impact the quality of life of a community. In rural communities that are home to 70 percent of North Carolina's population, disasters have had a tremendous de.stabilizing effect, disrupting the social and economic equilibrium of these communities. Full recovery can take years, . The recognition that communities can intervene to break the cycle of disaster damage - recovery - damage, and in the process assume responsibility for making their homes, businesses and utilities more resistant to the forces of natural hazards, Hurricane Fran, which impacted 60 percenl of the state's population in 1996, was a major turning point in !\orth Carolina's approach to planning and development.' Under the leadership of Governor James B. Hunt Jr" a Disaster Recovery Task Force was formed to organize, focus and channel state programs and resources to expedite the recovery of !\orth Carolina's communities following Hurricane Fran, Following Hurricane Fran, the state of North Carolina has submitted to the Federal Emergency ~Ianagement Agency (FEMA) more than 130 Hazard Mitigatiun GJ"dJ1t ProgJ".un project.' totaling more than $110 million. These funds have been used to carry out a variety of initiatives: elevation-in-place of flood. prone structures; acquisition of residential and business slructures; public education and warning projects; storm water management programs; and support for the development of the state's Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative, In essence, when Hurricane Floyd made landfali on September 15-16, 1999 - three years follO\ving Fran- the state of North Carolina was in the midst of an important transition, As a result of the progJ".uns and initiatives that have been undertaken in the aftennath Hurricane Fran, the concept and practice of hazard mitigation - those actions taken to permanently reduce or eliminate long-tenn risk to people and their property from the effects of hazards - is increasingly recognized as an integral feature of community planning and decision-making, In addition, it is recognized as essential to the long-lerm sustainability of communities. HAZARD MITIGATION: MEASURING SUCCESS Hurricane Floyd presents a unique opportunity to examine the role of mitigation progr.uns and initiatives in reducing damages and economic losses from this event. For the past decade - and particularly since Hurricane Fran - hazard-prone communities across the state have developed and carried out a range of programs to reduce their wlnerabllity to natural hazards. In North Carolina, four interrelated strategies have been used to reduce poteotiallosses from naturai hazards: . comprebensive mitigation planning, the ongoing process of identif)ing hazards and wlnerabilities, and developing plans and implementation slrategies to reduce the impacts of those hazards