New FEMA Publications on Hazard Mitigation and Livability

Planning for a Sustainable Future: The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability is the first of two publications the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has prepared to highlight and promote the vital connection between disaster resistance and livability. It focuses on a vision of sustainable communities and shows the reader how disaster prevention planning before a disaster strikes and/or a planned recovery process after a disaster can serve as a catalyst for creating more sustainable communities throughout the nation.

Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future: An Operational Framework, the second publication, will take the themes covered in Planning for a Sustainable Future and develop them into more detailed practical guidance for use during the post-disaster recovery process. This guidebook is intended to be used by staff from FEMA and state agencies who will be working directly with communities after a disaster. It is also intended to assist the local officials and citizens of affected communities to understand how the decisions they make and the actions they take as part of their recovery can ultimately result in a more sustainable community. Rebuilding for a More Sustainable Future will be available soon.

Planning for a Sustainable Future:
The Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability

Purpose
Resistance to disasters is a critical characteristic of a livable and sustainable community. This booklet illustrates how communities—either in planning for hazard mitigation before disaster strikes, or in initiating recovery planning after being struck by a disaster—can come out stronger, by integrating the concepts and principles of sustainable development into each phase of natural hazards planning: preparedness and prevention, recovery and reconstruction.

Description
A 42-page full color booklet that illustrates how disaster resistance can be a catalyst to help communities incorporate sustainable development into their day-to-day planning and development functions in the pre-disaster situation, or into their post-disaster recovery planning and reconstruction.

Audience
Written in "non-governmental" prose, this booklet will appeal to a broad range of individuals and organizations including: local decision makers, planners, the emergency management community, and those concerned with the economic viability of their communities. The booklet will also assist local officials and concerned citizens to understand how the decisions they make and the actions they take in disaster mitigation planning and recovery can ultimately result in a more sustainable community.

Summary
The booklet gives real-life examples of communities that have successfully implemented sustainable development practices in their community, and describes how citizens and local officials can become advocates for disaster resistance as a part of sustainable development and livability in their communities.

Contents

Introduction
A Vision of Sustainable Communities
Disaster Prevention: A Catalyst for Change
Building Blocks for a Multi-Hazard Approach to Mitigation
The Planning Process: The Foundation of Disaster Resistance
Disaster Recovery: A Window of Opportunity
Economic Sustainability: An Essential Component of Successful Recovery
Looking to the Future
Resources (including websites)
Federal Technical Assistance and Funding
References

How to Order
Call FEMA’s Publication Warehouse at 800-480-2520 to request FEMA 364.