FLOOD06155

• County: Statewide
• Community: State
• Stream Name: All
• Basin: Statewide
• Title: Storms Over the Urban Forest: A Community Guide to Disaster Relief
• Date: 1/1/1994
• Prepared For: State of Colorado
• Prepared By: USFWS
• Floodplain - Doc Type: Educational/Technical/Reference Information

Mitigation Action Categories
Management
Public Participation
Rules
Economics
Monitoring
Planning
Research
Structural
Assessment
Influence
Professional Training

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2.4 Mitigation Categories

Emergency action for a natural disaster consists of three chronological phases:

1. Preparation--disaster planning and warning activities. Examples of activities include: the
identification of an early warning system for severe weather, development of a disaster
response plan, identification of roles of various individuals and municipal departments during
disasters, and identification of groups or communities to contact for additional assistance when
necessary .

2. Response--immediate activity during and after the disaster. Examples of activities include: tree
damage clean up, clearance, identification of methods of communication from the field to the
office, determination of debris disposal options, and use of efficient record-keeping methods.

3. Recovery--activities after the disaster that attempt to restore conditions prior to the disaster.
Examples of activities include: public and private tree planting and care, training, tree planting
awareness events and celebrations, and recognition activities for volunteers, citizens, municipal
workers, and others involved.

Eleven mitigation action categories have been identified that relate to natural disasters (Morenlz et a/.
1982). All categories would be of use to municipal leaders and others involved in natural disasters. These
eleven categories link directly to the three emergency action phases and are listed below by importance:

A. Management

In practice, management includes sound administration of people and resources as well as coordination
and liaison between government agencies, the public and the private sector. Strong management begins
at the lowest possible grass-roots level. This approach tends to generate continuing and wise management
as the mitigation process ascends through higher levels.

1. Good management means a smooth flow of essential communication and efficient alignment of
personnel and other resources. Total chaos can and will occur during and after a natural disaster.
Downed telephone lines, loss of electricity, and a sudden influx of people and agencies wanting to

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