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Water and Wastewater All-Hazards Boot Camp
Prevention and Mitigation
Prevention and Mitigation
Prevention and Mitigation
What is Hazard Mitigation?
Hazard mitigation projects break the cycle of repetitive damage and reduce or eliminate the loss of life, property, essential services, and minimize the time and costs of recovery. Mitigation projects and activities may be implemented before a disaster strikes (referred to as pre-disaster mitigation) and after a disaster occurs (referred to as post-disaster mitigation).

Confirm with your local government officials and your state's hazard mitigation officer whether your utility infrastructure, equipment, and facilities are included in your community's hazard mitigation plan. If not, key officials from your utility may need to be involved in developing your community's plan as a prerequisite for obtaining hazard mitigation funds for utility projects.

EPA’s easy-to-use Hazard Mitigation Guide is specifically designed to aid and encourage water utility hazard mitigation efforts.

Three utility workers talking outside
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Rick Rodders: What can you tell me about hazard mitigation?

Kim Clearwell: After disasters, repair work typically involves restoring damaged facilities to pre-disaster conditions. However, subsequent disasters often result in similar damage.

You can break the cycle of repetitive damage by investing in mitigation projects. Your utility can reduce or eliminate the loss of life, property, essential services, and minimize the time and costs of recovery. Hazard mitigation may be implemented before a disaster strikes (referred to as pre-disaster mitigation) and after a disaster occurs (referred to as post-disaster mitigation).

Rick: What is the best way to mitigate hazards?

Kim Clearwell: The best way to start is with planning because hazard mitigation is a continual process. A hazard mitigation plan documents essential services and critical facilities. It describes potential hazards and identifies projects that may mitigate the damage to these services and facilities.

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