Evaluating the Impacts of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000

Sun. 1:30-3:00 p.m., Interlocken B

A decade ago, the Stafford Act was amended by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. The new law required adoption of multihazard mitigation plans as a precondition of local government eligibility to receive federal pre- and post-disaster hazard mitigation grants. DMA 2000 represented an extraordinary nationwide initiative to use financial incentives to build community resilience. Since then, nearly 20,000 locally adopted hazard mitigation plans have been approved by FEMA. This session will address two questions: Is it possible to develop effective national financial incentive systems promoting hazard mitigation planning that enhances disaster resiliency within local communities? If so, to what extent can such efforts be used in the future to promote best practices in hazard mitigation in the United States and elsewhere?

Darrin Punchard, Moderator
AECOM

Kenneth Topping, Panelist
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo

Oluponmile Olonilua, Panelist
Texas Southern University

Karen Helbrecht, Panelist
FEMA