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<br /> <br />defille the risks to local communities years to decades ahead of potential hazards could assist local de(.'ision <br />IllJkcrs in designing thcir communities to endure them. <br /> <br />Ei\'(;Ii\'EEHI~G Ai\D BL'lLDl1\'G CODES The ability of the built environment to \\'ithstand the impacts of nat- <br />lIral forces plays a direct role in dclcrrnining the casualties and dolbr costs of disasters. Disaster-resistant con- <br />struction of buildings and infrastructure is therefore <lIl essential cornpotH.'nl of local resilienC): Engineering <br />codes, standards. and practices have been promulgated for naturallwlards, Local governments have also tradi- <br />tiOl1<ll1y enacLed building codes. 110\\'t'\'er, im'estigations after disasters have revcaled shortcomings ill construc- <br />tion techniques and code cnfon:cmenL Codes, standards. and practices for all h,llards must he reevaluatell in <br />light of the goal of sustainahle mitigation. and comnlllllitics must improve adherence to them. <br /> <br />l!\"sCRA:\'CE The puhlic increasingly looks to insurance to l:ornpcnsate for losses from many types of <br />risk-laking behavior. Ilowen'r, 1110st property owners do not buy cO\'t'l"agc against special perils. notahly <br />earthquakes, hurricanes. and Hoods, for example. nationwide only dbout 20 perccllt of the homes exposeJ to <br />floods are insurt-'d for them. l\lany people assume that Fedcral disaster assistance will function as a kind of <br />hazard insurance, hut such aid is almost always limiled. And even when larger amounts are available, they <br />are usually offered in the form of loans, not outright grants. <br />Insurance does help minimizc some disruption hy ensuring that people wiLh coverage receive compensa- <br /> <br />8 <br />