It  also established several initiatives designed to improve state and local  hazard mitigation planning—the process these governments use to identify  risks and vulnerabilities associated with natural hazards and to develop  long-term strategies for protecting people and property in future hazard  events. The United States Is at Risk from a Number of Natural Hazards, and Our Vulnerability Is Increasing

Flooding is the most common and destructive hazard facing the nation,  but earthquakes, hurricanes, wildland fires, tornadoes, and landslides are  also significant risks in certain regions. Some of  these hazards, including thunderstorms, extreme heat, and winter storms  can occur in most areas of the country. Population Trends and Climate Change Are Increasing the Nation’s Vulnerability

Population growth in hazard-prone areas and the resulting increase in  development in these areas are increasing the vulnerability of the nation to  losses resulting from natural hazards. Building codes  and design standards also can be used to help reduce losses from natural  hazards by creating structures that are better able to withstand a hazard  event. Finally, hazard control structures such as  levees, dams, and floodwalls can help protect existing at-risk  developments from flood losses. Insurance discounts can also encourage communities and individuals to  undertake mitigation measures. Some states also use insurance discounts to promote mitigation. Federal, state, and local officials all cited the importance of  political support in implementing mitigation actions and, said that without  political support, the amount of mitigation activities that occur would be  limited. A Number of Collaboration Efforts Exist but Do Not Provide a Comprehensive Strategic Framework for National Natural Hazard Mitigation Goals

Collaboration among federal, state, and local agencies as well as  nongovernmental stakeholders on natural hazard mitigation efforts tends  to occur on a hazard-specific basis, typically after a disaster, or through  informal methods. This fragmented approach does not provide a comprehensive  strategic framework for federal agencies and other stakeholders to  collectively work toward accomplishing common national hazard  mitigation goals. In this report, for example, we describe a variety of  mitigation activities that exist to reduce the risk of losses from natural  hazards, including hazard mitigation planning, the adoption and  enforcement of more rigorous building codes, and the use of hazard  control structures. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope, and Methodology

Our objectives were to examine the (1) natural hazards that present a risk  to life and property in the United States, areas that are most susceptible to  them, and factors that may be increasing these risks; (2) mitigation  activities that reduce losses from natural hazards; (3) impediments to  implementing and methods for encouraging mitigation activities; and (4)  collaborative efforts of federal agencies and other stakeholders to  promote mitigation.
Why GAO Did This Study

The nation has experienced vast losses from natural hazards. The potential for future events, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, demonstrates the importance of hazard mitigation--actions that reduce the long-term risks to life and property from natural hazard events. GAO was asked to examine (1) natural hazards that present a risk to life and property in the United States, areas that are most susceptible to them, factors that may be increasing these risks, and mitigation activities that reduce losses; (2) methods for encouraging and impediments to implementing mitigation activities; and (3) collaborative efforts of federal agencies and other stakeholders to promote mitigation. To address these objectives, GAO collected and analyzed hazard data, reviewed population information, conducted site visits to locations with comprehensive mitigation programs, and collected information from relevant agencies and officials.

What GAO Found

Natural hazards present risks to life and property throughout the United States. Flooding is the most widespread and destructive of these, resulting in billions of dollars in property losses each year. Hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildland fires also pose significant risks in certain regions of the country. Tornadoes, landslides, tsunamis, and volcanic eruptions can also occur in some areas. Population growth in hazard-prone areas, especially coastal areas, is increasing the nation's vulnerability to losses because more people and property are at risk. Climate change may also impact the frequency and severity of future natural hazard events. A variety of natural hazard mitigation activities exist, which are primarily implemented at the state and local level, and include hazard mitigation planning; strong building codes and design standards; and hazard control structures (e.g., levees). For example, strong building codes and design standards can make structures better able to withstand a hazard event and hazard control structures help protect existing at-risk areas. Public education, financial assistance, and insurance discounts can help encourage mitigation. For example, federal, state, and local governments provide financial assistance to promote mitigation and insurance discounts can encourage the use of mitigation measures. However, significant challenges exist to implementing natural hazard mitigation activities. Some of these challenges include the desire for local economic development--often in hazard-prone areas--which may conflict with long-term mitigation goals and the cost of mitigation may limit the amount of activities that occur. FEMA, other federal agencies, and nonfederal stakeholders have collaborated on natural hazard mitigation, but the current approach is fragmented and does not provide a comprehensive national strategic framework for mitigation. Collaboration typically occurs on a hazard-specific basis, after a disaster, or through informal methods. A comprehensive framework would help define common national goals, establish joint strategies, leverage resources, and assign responsibilities among stakeholders.