Mitigation (Take Action!)
Mitigation is the most recently added phase in the disaster cycle and also the broadest. It is also the most cost-effective of the four stages. Tax dollars are often used in disaster-prone areas where building should either not have occurred or with more robust building codes. Mitigation specifically refers to actions taken to eliminate or reduce the effects of natural or man-made hazards. For this reason, this phase has also been called the prevention phase. Because this definition is so encompassing, actions within this phase can be highly varied. Mitigation activities often include education, targeting resources and projects, and developing legislation. These activities can also encompass climate change action Ultimately these actions should break the cycle of destruction, repair, destruction, repair, etc.
Education
Most importantly, people are not aware of what disasters they are susceptible to and whether their residences are particularly vulnerable to a certain type of disaster (i.e. living in flood plains). Understanding which disasters are most likely to strike also provides guidance to what measures should be taken to mitigate the effects of a disaster.
Check your flood risk:
Flood Plain Education PDF (by Storm Smart)
Protect your house from potential disasters:
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes
Advocacy
Taxes are increasingly paying for damages to structures that should have been held to higher standards in building codes. Lobby your legislator to promote better building codes. As the legislative season gears up, Texas Impact will be involved in bills having to do with codes so keep checking back!
For a list of last year’s legislative proposals and their outcomes:
Disaster Relief Legislation in Texas
Environmental Advocacy
Many predict that global warming will be one of the biggest threats to humanity, but climate change is already increasing the intensity and number of natural hazards occurring in the world. Asking your legislator to do something about climate change is also asking him or her to do something about disaster policy.
To learn more of Texas Impact’s environmental initiatives:
Texas Interfaith Power and Light
For more information, to request a disaster preparedness presentation, or for guidance on implementing these steps, contact Selena Xie at Selena@texasimpact.org or (512) 472 - 3903.
