Each year, the United States sustains natural and manmade disasters that cost hundreds of lives and average billions of dollars in losses. These damages are caused by floods, wildfires, winter storms, tornadoes, landslides, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other natural events, as well as intentional and unintentional manmade hazard events. These circumstances demand the attention of government at all levels, the private sector, and individuals, to take steps to decrease hazard risks. However, just as all disasters begin and end at the local level, so too must mitigation efforts.

You can refer to the Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities (https://www.nibs.org/files/pdfs/hms_vol1.pdf) for details on the benefits of hazard mitigation.

Studies show that money spent on reducing risk of natural hazards is a sound investment. On average, $1 spent by FEMA on hazard mitigation provides the nation about $4 in future benefits.

Over the last several decades, land development has led to sprawling suburban communities and homes, built with minimal attention to protection against high winds, flooding, wildfire, or other natural hazards. More people were, and still are, moving to and building in areas that put them in harm's way.

In order for a community to be sustainable, it must develop disaster resilience.