Mitigation
Mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. Mitigation is taking action now - before the next disaster - to reduce human and financial consequences later (analyzing risk, reducing risk, insuring against risk). Effective mitigation requires that we all understand local risks, address the hard choices, and invest in long-term community well-being. Without mitigation actions, we jeopardize of our safety, financial security, and self-reliance.
The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 requires all local, county, tribal and state governments to develop a multi-hazard mitigation plan for their respective jurisdiction in order to be eligible to receive certain hazard mitigation and public assistance funds to reduce long-term risk to life and property.
The purpose of mitigation planning is to identify policies and actions that can be implemented over the long term to reduce risk and future losses. Mitigation Plans form the foundation for a community's long-term strategy to reduce disaster losses and break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. The planning process is as important as the plan itself. It creates a framework for risk-based decision-making to reduce damages to lives, property, and the economy from future disasters.
Pinal County and the nine incorporated cities and towns located within the county have worked together to review and update the existing 2016 Pinal County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (PDF).
The Town of Queen Creek participates in the Maricopa County Multi-Jurisdiction Hazard Mitigation Planning Process: see Queen Creek's Hazard Mitigation Plan.
Each community benefits from mitigation planning by:
- Identifying cost-effective actions for risk reduction that are agreed upon by stakeholders and the public
- Focusing resources on the greatest risks and vulnerabilities
- Building partnerships by involving people, organizations and businesses
- Increasing education and awareness of hazards and risk
- Communicating priorities to state and federal officials
- Aligning risk reduction with other community objectives