• Concepts of sustainability, disaster resistant communities and mitigation
  
• An overview of the contents of Section 322 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, and of 44 CFR Part 201.6.

Unit Three, Organizing Resources, begins with discussion about the specific Local Plan requirements for a mitigation planning process. The unit will include:

• Discussion about methods for assessing readiness to plan, establishing the planning team and engaging the public in the process
  
• Introduction to How-to #1, Getting Started: Building Support for Mitigation Planning
  
• Activities which will provide the basis for beginning planning activities in the participants' planning areas.

Unit Four, Assessing Risks, will refer to requirements for risk assessment in 44 CFR Part 201, and describe any relevant State or FEMA Regional guidance on the subject. The unit also will include:

• An opportunity to become familiar with the important tasks and available resources in Understanding Your Risks, How-to Guide #2.
  
• Small group activities in which participants identify planning area hazards and mapping resources, develop preliminary inventory of assets and estimate losses from a selected hazard.

Unit Five, Setting Mitigation Goals and Creating the Mitigation Strategy, illustrates the logical transition from risk assessment to establishment of mitigation goals and objectives that address the long-term vulnerabilities indicated in the risk assessment. This includes:

• Specific mitigation strategy requirements in 44 CFR Part 201.6
  
• Measures that have been used successfully in this State to reduce risk from hazards identified in Unit Four
  
• How- to Guide #3, Developing the Mitigation Plan: Identifying Mitigation Measures and Implementation Strategies
  
• Group activities to address one of the high priority risks in the planning area, identify mitigation measures and apply selection criteria.

Unit Six, Developing the Mitigation Plan, introduces the FEMA criteria by which the Local Plans will be evaluated.

• Participants will use the criteria to evaluate hypothetical Local Plan excerpts.
  
• The instructor will describe State and/or FEMA Regional requirements or recommendations for plan organization and format.

Unit Seven, Implementing the Mitigation Plan, addresses the final phase of mitigation planning. It includes:

• Requirements for mitigation plan implementation and maintenance in 44 CRF 201.6.
  
• How-to #4, Bringing the Plan to Life: Assuring the Success of the Hazard Mitigation Plan
  
• Financial and technical assistance for funding mitigation activities
  
• Implementation considerations and issues.
  

Supplemental Materials:

- 44 CFR Parts 201 & 206, Hazard Mitigation Planning and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Interim Final Rule
- FEMA, Bringing the Plan to Life: Assuring the Success of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, How-to Guide #4, when available
- FEMA, Developing a Mitigation Plan: Identifying Mitigation Measures and Implementation Strategies, How-to Guide #3, when available
- FEMA, Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
- FEMA, Getting Started: Building Support for Mitigation Planning, How-to Guide #1, when available
- FEMA, Planning for a Sustainable Future, FEMA-361, September 2000
- FEMA, Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future, FEMA-365, November 2000
- FEMA, State and Local Plan Interim Criteria Under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000
- FEMA, Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses, FEMA 386-2, How-to Guide #2, August 2001
- Student Manual

SAMPLE TEST QUESTIONS

Sustainability is defined as

a. the free flow of grant dollars to implement mitigation programs within the community.
b. limiting urban sprawl in communities less threatened by hazards.
c. including all the necessary stakeholders in the planning phase to insure the project is completed.
d. enhanced economic opportunity and community well being while respecting, protecting and restoring the natural environment upon which people and economies depend.

States meeting enhanced planning criteria for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program increases funding

a. from 5% to 15%.
b. to cover all planned mitigation projects.
c. from 15% to 20%.
d. to cover most mitigation projects.

Government publications used in this document have been electronically transcribed by
International Disaster/Fire Training Institute, Inc.
Sources used to develop these courses are public domain documents.