There are two general types of mitigation: active and passive.

• Active mitigation: Mitigation measure that require human intervention (or power) to operate properly
• Passive mitigation: Mitigation measures that require no human intervention (or power) to operate properly

Passive measures are preferable and tend to be more sustainable; active mitigation measures should be avoided if possible, especially for natural hazards where there is little or no warning time, such as flash floods, tornadoes, or earthquakes.

Active hazard mitigation measures require some degree of human intervention to be fully effective. Active migration is considered 406 Hazard Mitigation if it is tied to a damaged element.

Examples of active mitigation:

• Flood - Flood-proofing techniques that require the installation of flood shields over doors and other openings prior to the event
• Wind - Installing or securing storm shutters

Passive hazard mitigation measures do not require any human intervention to be fully effective.

Examples of passive mitigation:

• Flood - Elevation and relocation of structures
• Wind - Improving roof sheathing and the connections between roof framing and walls
• Earthquake - Installing or securing shear walls or cross bracing

As a result of Hurricane Zena, the windows of the Hazard County Courthouse were impacted and shattered by flying debris. During the recovery process, the Applicant has claimed this damage and is requesting funds to replace the windows. The Applicant wishes to request 406 Hazard Mitigation in order to prevent the failure of the courthouse windows during a future disaster event.

The Applicant is considering the following two options for 406 Hazard Mitigation:

• Active Mitigation: Installation of accordion roll-down shutters to be placed on the building and deployed prior to a hurricane
  
• Passive Mitigation: Glass upgrade to impact-resistant glass

Note: Mitigation options to protect windows from wind events include, but are not limited to, the Applicant's considerations.

Direct and indirect benefits of the mitigation:

• Direct benefit: Limiting and/or preventing failure of the building windows and the need to replace them following an event
  
• Indirect benefit: Limiting and/or preventing the destruction of components and contents inside the building that would be exposed to storm winds and rain if the windows break

The Applicant is making the following considerations in selecting active and passive hazard mitigation measures:

• Active Mitigation: The measure is effective as long as there is enough pre-event lead time and staff are available to deploy the measure
  
• Passive Mitigation: Impact resistant glass is robust, but still may break upon impact during extreme events

Applicants should propose the mitigation method that is most advantageous to their specific need and capability.

During Hurricane Sandy, both the New York University Langone Medical Center and LaGuardia Airport lost power. Each facility had generators to provide emergency power, but neither was adequately prepared for the flooding that occurred.

When the generators were flooded, the medical center and airport lost back-up power, interrupting service and endangering lives.

In response, the Langone Medical Center and LaGuardia Airport have used Section 406 Hazard Mitigation funding to elevate their back-up generators and reduce the risk of power-loss during any future flooding.

The town of Beaver Creek, Kansas is subject to flooding and runoff resulting in heavy water flow through buried pipes, exceeding their capacity.

However, wastewater treatment is considered an integrated and interdependent process. Damage to an ineligible component of the plant affects the function of the whole system, including eligible components.

After reviewing the case, the Recovery Branch approved dry floodproofing for the entire wastewater treatment plant as Section 406 Hazard Mitigation.