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Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0492.001 1998-2000 INFORMATION ON PROJECT IMPACT 1. County based program to create a disaster resistant community to reduce human and economic costs of disasters. Essentially, it is an effort for communities to help themselves in dealing with natural hazards. 2. It involves development of a sustainable cost reduction program among governments, nonprofit organizations, and the private sector which is essential to the success of the program. 3. FEMA initiated Project Impact with seven pilot communities. At this time, 108 communities aze in the program. Another round of communities will be selected in November/December 1999. 4. FEMA will provide seed money to facilitate development of the program within a county, ranging from $300,000 to $500,000. Amount of funds is dependent on number and complexity of prepazedness and mitigation projects a county will implement as well as Congressional allocation. 5. Success is achieved when an effective and productive public-private collaboration is organized and sustained. 6. FEMA and the State Civil Defense Division will provide assistance, if requested, in the planning process of the action plan and hazazd analysis. t- l;C+ ~ r t; 7. Requirements for participation: y b p _ a. Form a Disaster Resistant Community Planning Community composed of all stakeholders. b. Evaluate hazazds and associated vulnerabilities confronting the county. c. Recognize that financial support is necessary to sustain and to expand the program. d. Develop an action plan to implement specific projects to reduce property loss and to enhance public safety from major disasters. e. Member of and compliant with the National Flood Insurance Program. f. Demonstration of past mitigation efforts. g. Willingness to promote grassroot efforts and to solicit active involvement from the business community. O O' i--';;~ No. FNI~OP~ r.ef, To• Press~}~ F ~ Ref. Date ~ 2 s ~ FEMAREGION 1 , J. W. McCormack Post Office Courthouse Building, Room 442 ' ' ~ ~ Boston, MA 02109 ~ ~ ' (617) 223-9540 FEMA REGION 11 26 Federal Plaza, ROOT 1337 New VOrK, NV 10278 : IMPACT (212) 225-7209 FEMA REGION 111 Liberty Square Building, 2nd Floor 105 S. Seventh Street Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215) 931-5608 ~~I.1 ~ ~ , g FEMA REGION IV 3003 Chamblee TUCker Rcad Atlanta, GA 303at (770) 220-5400 D i s a s t e r I , FEMA REGION V 775 W. Jackson Blvd., 4th Floor Chicago, IL 60604 (312) 408-5500 Ip FEMA REGION VI ~s~s~ar~~ Federal Regional Center 800 N. Loop Denton, TX 76201 ¦ (940)898-5399 2323 Grand BNId., Suite 900 Kansas City, MO 64106 (St6) 283-7002 - FEMA REGION VIII Denver Federal Center, Bldg. 710 Box 25267 Denver, CO 80225 ' (303) 235-4830 a.r. :t. FEMA REGION IX Building 105, Presidio of San Franciso San Francisco, CA 94729 (416) 923-7700 t. H., ~ , FEMA REGION X Federal Regional Center 730 228th Street, SW Bothell, WA 98027 (425) 847-4687 For more Project Impact publications, please call 800-480-2520. FEMA/S~rinc, 1998 fEGER1IL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY pulltllnp a olsaabr Peslstent Community PROJECT ~i Each day, natural disasters destroy our communities and affect the lives of our families, neighbors and friends. While we can't stop natural hazards, we can change the way America deals with disasters. Project Impact: Building a Disaster Resistant Community is an initiative that challenges the nation to undertake actions that protect families, business- es and communities by reducing the effects of natural disasters. Reducing the effects of natural disas- ters makes economic sense, and it is good public policy because it protects our citizens and our future. The collab- oration, preparation and prevention found in Project Impact should be the way in which our nation, our states and our communities conduct their day-to- day business. This brochure gives an overview of Project Impact and the things you can do as an individual -whether you are a a business owner, a member of a civic or volunteer organization, acting on your own or as a government official - to contribute to this exciting initiative. Please join us by helping your commu- nity and communities around the nation protect themselves from disasters. Working together, we can forever change the way America prepares for and prevents the effects of disasters. James L. Witt Director Federal Emergency Management Agency PROJECT IMPACT: Building a Disaster Resistant Community Lives can be saved, damage to propetty reduced and eco- nomic recovery from disaster accelerated by taking action BEFORE the waters flow, the winds howl, the fires rage or the ground shakes. FEMA and the other federal agencies responsible for dis- , aster assistance are committed to reducing disaster losses. However, we cannot do it alone. Ptrojea Impact seeks m change the way America deals with natural disasters. The goal of Prgect Impact is to reduce the personal and economic costs of disasters by bringing H/tiy DO We together community leaders, citizens and businesses to Need Project prepare for and protect themselves against the ravages of Impact? nature. This effort is an investment that will enhance and Disasters occur in every state in the strengthen the economic structure and long-term stabili- U.S. The direct costs are stagger- ty of your community, regardless of when disasters strike. ing, but perhaps more devastating are the indirect and long-term con- You can make a difference. As an individual -whether sequences. It takes years for local you are a business owner, a member of a civic or volunteer governments, businesses, and citi- organizadon, acting on your own or as a government offi- zens to recover emotionally and cial -you can play an important part m keeping your fam- financially. The long- reran impatt fly, business and community safe. By working together of disasters can be felt for years though Prgect Impart, there are steps we can all take m through lost jobs and a depressed reduce our vulnerability and to transform our own cam- economy that result from the need muniry into a disaster resistant one. ro redirect vital community _ resources from investments in the future ro replace the losses of the present 'S ~ In many of the communities that have experienced disas- ~l ~ 1, ' rers, homes, families and businesses rnuld have been bet- ,_.,~I I r_i ~ ter protected through advance preparation. There are actions that citizens, government and businesses can take w_ ; tW, - , to lessen the impact of natural disasters. Project Impart ~ promotes this forward-thinking philosophy so it will become a natural part of how we run otu communities. x. y, 2 3 The Four Phases of PROJECT IMPACT: Project Impact What You Can Do Now Many of the activities that you and your community should Like any broad-based community ini[iative, ProjeeY Impact undertake as part of Project Impa~7 may already be under- has roles for those who can devote significant time and way in some form. Here are steps that you can rake to cap- resources as well as those who are only able to play a small italize on the positive forces already at work and channel or one-time part. Following are a few examples of the them into building a disaster resistant community: p types of things you can do as a supporter or participant in f Project Impact: 1. Building Community Partnerships The concept is simple: we can accomplish more as a Individuals: group than as individuals. You can help by identifying • Conduc[ a neighborhood and recruiting Project Imprtet partners in your eommu- meeting to identify vulnerabil- nity. For the greatest chance of success, the eommu- ides in your area. nity partnership group should reflect a1L sectors: local • Install storm shutters, remove government leaders, civic and volunteer groups, busi- dead brush and grass from nesses and individual citizens. your property, install smoke detector and residential fire 11. Assessing Risks sprinkler systems, raise or Once Projectlmpad partners have been recruited, the floodproof your heating, ven- first order of business is to examine your communi- dieting and air conditioning ty's risks for natural disasters. Then, partners must units and encourage and help neighbors to do the same. assess the community's wlnerabiliry to those risks. I • Purchase flood insurance to cover your borne and its con- 111. Prioritizing Needs to?is. Next, the Project Impact partners should take a close ~ look at the specific buildings and systems the[ are Business Peopl®: most susceptible to risk. From this you can target • Comply with building, fire ~ the appropriate resources and prioritize the actions 1 necessary to reduce the impact and afrermath of and other codes. future disasters. • Share information with fellow business people abou[ what you've done m protect your business. IV. Building Support and Communicating What You Are Doing • Collaborate and coordinate efforts with nearby busi- Keep the entire community focused on the objet- nesses. dues of Project Lmpact as well as provide on-going • Support your local government's initiatives for diszs- oppormnities for additional involvement and sup- ter resistance. port by updating citizens and businesses about what • Encourage and support employees' efforts w partic- the Project Lmpact partners are doing and how the ipate in disaster resistant community aetivines. community will and is benefiting from these efforts. • Purchase flood insurance to cover your business and its mntenL~. q 5 ~~i LLL~`L ~`~~l! L1 DARLINGTON, vin A cycle of repeated flooding over the course of 43 years left the city of Darlington with a weakened R j infrastructure and commercial ~i.~4!Ir `'~r~ . f,,~~1 capacity. The elected officials took P action by creating a local partner- ship to protect their community from future floods. CIVIC and Volunteer Organlzatlons: • Take steps to integrate and streamline your disaster relief and recovery activities. Darlington, with FEMA, the Economic Development Agency, • Host public education forums on the importance of the State of Wisconsin, businesses prevention. and citizens, floodproofed 12 build- • Foster a dialogue with local government and the ings. They also relocated 15 vul- private sector. nerable buildings, developed an • Adopt a community and help them protect their aKernate site for business opera- homes. tion and passed measures to pre- vent development near the river - Oovarnmant Offlclals: the culprit of previous disasters. • Review policies regarding the construction and maintenance of critical utilities and systems. • Ensure that regulations and codes are enforced and seek new measures to fill any gaps. ; • Invest in the prevention of damage to public infra- structure. • Host public education forums, soliciting the partici- pation of the local government and Arojea [mpart business partners. ? • Encourage similar activities among all arms of local, regional and state governments. 6 The First Step To Becoming A Disaster Resistant Community Natural disasters permeate every corner of our commu- nities. No individual, business or organisation is left muouched. if your community were to suffer the hard- ship of a natural disaster, everyone would pull together to recover. Ru[ imagine if damage could he avoided by taking steps before the disaster. Project Impart is about tapping that same collaborative spin[ RF.FORE the disaster strikes. F@:MA can provide you and your commm~ity with more infonnadon about how to become a disaster resistant community. There are many resources available a, you call FEMA publications at 800-480-2520 for the following: • Project Impact Community Guidebook • Project Impact Video to build support in your community and begin to take action • How-To Mitigation Tools • 'technical Assistance from FEMA personnel • Prevention and Prepara[ion "Tips" for Individuals, Communities and Businesses You can also con[act your FEMA regional office (listed on the back panel of this brochure), or access the FEMA website at www.fema.gov for more information. 8