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Permission is requested to use information from FEMA

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is a former independent agency that became part of the new Department of Homeland Security in March 2003is tasked with responding to, planning for, recovering from and mitigating against disasters. FEMA can trace its beginnings to the Congressional Act of 1803. This act, generally considered the first piece of disaster legislation, provided assistance to a New Hampshire town following an extensive fire. In the century that followed, ad hoc legislation was passed more than 100 times in response to hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and other natural disasters.

The Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation Curriculum is designed to involve emergency management and community and faith-based organizations (CBOs/FBOs) in pre-disaster mitigation activities at the local level. The goals of the curricula are to enable participants to discover the role that CBOs/FBOs can play in mitigation activities, determine possible mitigation projects in which they might engage, and better understand ways that CBOs/FBOs and emergency managers can work together.

Setting Up for Success in Community-Based Mitigation

Learn how to establish a foundation and organization for a community-based mitigation program.

Checking out the Local Mitigation Scene

1. Brainstorm local mitigation activities

• Determine if any volunteer mitigation efforts have occurred in the past or are presently underway.
• If community-based mitigation has been undertaken, learn about the activities, groups involved, and perceived successes and challenges.

2. Identifying local mitigation opportunities for volunteers Community-based Pre-Disaster Mitigation for CBOs/FBOs

Effectively Identifying and Recruiting Individual Volunteers