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<br />Mitigation Strategy Report <br />FEMA-1134-DR-NC <br /> <br />State of North Carolina <br />Division of Emergency Management <br /> <br />III. Mitigation Opportunities <br /> <br />. Hazard Mitigation Planning Begins at the Local Level <br /> <br />Mitigation strategies should be driven by counties and municipalities because they are familiar with <br />the local hazards. The North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (EM) mitigation staff can <br />assist communities by providing officials with hazard mitigation information via Local Hazard Mitigation <br />Planning Workshops and general technical assistance visits. Local officials should be encouraged to <br />allend the mitigation workshops and ask for technical assistance as necessary. Topics to be addressed <br />in future workshops include: <br /> <br />Introduction to naturai hazards and disasters; <br />Potential mitigation measures; <br />Federal initiatives for disaster relief; <br />Grant programs; <br />Background studies on hazard evaluation; <br />Risk assessment & vulnerability analysis. <br /> <br />Local jurisdictions should engage in hazard identification, risk assessment, and the development of an <br />overall mitigation plan. Plans should reduce future damages, contribute to public safety and welfare, <br />and preserve economic vitality. Mitigation projects should also be compatible with a local jurisdiction's <br />overall comprehensive planning process and the State's Hazard Mitigation Plan. <br /> <br />. State Mitigation Efforts <br /> <br />. Mitigation Techniques <br /> <br />Numerous mitigation techniques exist that can be used to reduce the future impacts of natural hazards. <br />Following Hurricane Fran, the State will focus on techniques that are designed to reduce future damages <br />and the loss of life resulting from flooding, coastal storm surge, and wind damage. Several of these <br />techniques are discussed below. It should be noted that the following measures are not an exhaustive <br />list. In addition, no recommendations are made at this point. Rather, the general descriptions are <br />meant to serve as an introduction to the State's HMGP priorities. Following the list of proposed priorities, <br />specific Fran-related issues are discussed. It is at this point that specific recommendations are made. <br /> <br />> AcquisitionlRelocalion & Acquisition/Demolition <br /> <br />Acquisition/Relocation and Acquisition/Demolition projects offer the most reliable mitigation measure <br />available, particularly for residents, businesses, or community facilities facing severe repetitive flooding. <br />Since relocation involves moving structures out of Special Flood Hazard Areas (SFHA), it effectively <br />negates future flood losses. However, relocation may not be feasible for large businesses or community <br />facilities given the project's scale. The relocation of waste water treatment facilities may offer additional <br />challenges. Most waste water facilities are located in low lying areas due to the gravity-based flow <br />systems typical of treatment plants. Options include relocating the facility to higher ground and installing <br />pump systems to carry the waste uphill, or flood proofing the existing facility. The relocation of waste <br />water treatment facilities should be undertaken as a last resort. Some environmental hazards can also <br />be relocated. Potential mitigation projects associated with the relocation of environmental hazards <br />focus on those in SFHAs. By moving hazards out of the floodplain, the dispersal of toxic chemicals <br />and agricultural waste into adjacent communities and river systems is reduced significantly. <br /> <br />Page 5 <br />