FLOOD07834 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

north to south within the state and is using mitigation techniques to address drain- off, overpasses built to earthquake codes, and erosion control. The large majority of mitigation spending in Delaware has been for pre-disaster activities and structural projects. Millions of dollars are spent every year in Delaware on beach renourishment as an effective mitigation tool to protect citizens and property from inland cost flooding. II: ._L · p-. R~I..~.D .~J;\_ -= -- -- - _ _ ~ =.~ -~ Hurricane Andrew taught the state of Florida the value of mitigation and the need to break the vicious cycle of disaster and rebuilding. The state does not have a dedicated mitigation trust fund, but the state does have several sources of state funds that are used for mitigation purposes. The Emergency Management Preparedness and Assis- tance Trust Fund (EMPA) is a $16.24 million fund that is used for emergency manage- ment projects, many of which are mitigation in nature. The CAT fund is an annual $10 million fund allocated from the Catastrophic Insurance Fund for general mitigation activities. In fiscal year 1998, the CAT fund was used, for example, to match Hazard Mitigation Grant Program projects for open disasters, improve wind resistance to residences, and beach renourishment. Florida also has a Department of Insurance Regulatory Trust Fund. This is a large fund used by the Department of Insurance to fund projects, $2.5 million of which was dedicated to mitigation efforts in fiscal 98. These efforts include $1.4 million for inspecting coastal homes and recommending mitigation retrofit and $1.2 million to d~velop a hazard resistance construction materials and methods pilot program. Florida's Petroleum Violation Escrow Account consists of funds collected by the us Department of Energy through settlements from oil companies that overcharged customers. Tl-,ese funds are distributed to states. Florida is dedicating $5 million from this account to fund long-term redevelopment efforts. Since Andrew, Florida emergency management has championed mitigation across the state. One example is Escambia County, an area which has fallen victim to five Presidentially declared disasters including the EI Nino flooding of 1998 and four major hurricanes. During each of these disasters, several thousand residents were placed in evacuation shelters across the state. However, none of the shelters had secured-window protection, leaving residents vulnerable to high winds and flying debris. Alter a review of the community's mitigation needs, Florida emergency man- agement allocated $1.5 million to help the community place storm shutters on eight local schools, which also serve as evacuation shelters, and several public buildings, including the health department, two fire stations and the Pensacola police depart- ment. When the next hurricane strikes, these critical facilities will be ready and able to help their communities. ,. .. .- - ~ t!.: t\. "". A ~I. ~ _ _ _ ____ u . As an island state which is no stranger to tropical storms and other hazards, Hawaii takes mitigation very seriously. The state has a number of trust funds for mitigation purposes, including a land resources program to protect the environment and a transportation program for airport improvement and retrofitting bridges. In 1998, Hawaii formed the State Hazard Mitigation Forum composed of representatives from state, local and federal agencies and the private sector. The forum was established to serve as a clearinghouse for mitigation activities across the state, encourage mitiga- tion projects, provide technical assistance, and to help raise funds. One example of Hawaii's successful mitigation program is the port of Honolulu. Maritime cargo, which accounts for the vast majority of cargo shipped to the state, I Investing in Our Future: Report on Trends in State Mitigation Spending ~