Floodplain management is a program focused on reducing flood damages through resilient community decision-making and implementation of preventive and, when required, corrective measures.
The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is one portion of the floodplain management toolbox. The NFIP provides minimum development standards for preventive and protective measures through improved land use and building practices, and encourages communities to evaluate and determine usage of higher standards.
Participation in the NFIP is based on an agreement between a local government and the federal government. If the community adopts and enforces a floodplain management ordinance that meets program standards, the federal government will make flood insurance available within the community.
Mitigation refers to activities that eliminate or reduce the effects of a disaster. Two elements encompass mitigation: planning and projects. A Hazard Mitigation Plan is a guide to methods, projects, and actions that will make people and their communities less vulnerable to the effects of natural and human-caused hazards.
The State Hazard Mitigation Officer, with the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHS&EM), manages the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).
Alaska Mitigation Program
Jimmy Smith, Local Government Specialist Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Division of Community and Regional Affairs 550 West 7th Avenue, Suite 1640 Anchorage, AK 99501 Phone: (907) 269-4132 FAX: (907) 269-4066 jimmy.smith@alaska.gov