Jurisdictional Leaders' Perception of Factors that Contribute to Hazard Mitigation Planning

Abstract

Recent disasters have demonstrated the importance of mitigating their potential impact to not only protect human lives, but to also reduce the seemingly unending cycle of repeated damages. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires state, local, and tribal governments to have FEMA-approved Hazard Mitigation Plans in order to qualify for certain types of Federal funding. However, even with these mandates in place, there are a number of local governments that have yet to adopt a FEMA-approved multi-hazard mitigation plan. Although multi-hazard mitigation plans seem rational for reducing the impact of hazards, efforts to prepare plans and implement mitigation-related activities are oftentimes met with resistance at the local jurisdictional level. The purpose of this qualitative study is to inductively examine the social, financial, and political conditions and forces that contribute to the decision to adopt or not adopt a hazard mitigation plan in the Red River Valley.