Hazard Mitigation

What is Hazard Mitigation?

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) defines hazard mitigation as, "any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate long-term risk to life and property from natural hazards." Good planning before, during, and after disasters can protect our health, our daily ways of life, and promote equity in our community.

Why is Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan Important?

As one of Rhode Island’s communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, the Town of Barrington understands that a well-developed Hazard Mitigation & Flood Management Plan is an important planning tool that can:

• identify goals to prepare and adapt to changing hazards and vulnerabilities
• engage community and regional stakeholders and link local and regional planning efforts
• educate community to increase personal safety and resiliency
• improve opportunities for mitigation funding

 While we can’t prevent natural hazard events, such as hurricanes and nor’easters, pre-disaster planning and investments in preventative measures can reduce the impact of these events and improve post-disaster recovery.

Strengthening Community Resilience

These are the steps we are using to develop the 2022 HMFMP:

• Hazard Profiles: identify natural hazards that may have a significant impact on Barrington should they occur (such as floods, hurricanes, and nor’easters).
• Vulnerability Assessment: determine who and what are at risk from natural hazard events (including people, structures, infrastructure, economy, and natural environment).
• Hazard Ranking: recognizing that the Town has limited fiscal and staffing resources, rank the natural hazards to identify where the Town should focus resources.
• Capability Assessment: understand what measures the Town currently implements in terms of hazard mitigation.
• Action Plan: identify projects, initiatives, policies that will help to fill the gap between what has been done and what still needs to be done.