Natural hazard mitigation saves: 2019 report

Pre-disaster mitigation—preparing in advance for future disasters—assures that hazardous events are short-lived and more manageable. Mitigation saves lives, and preserves homes, businesses, government facilities, utilities, and transportation infrastructure. It reduces damage to belongings, helps economies spring back faster, and lowers recovery costs. This report aims to help decision-makers build a mitigation strategy so they can protect these lives, properties, and assets.

The authors found that:

• Adopting model codes saves $11 per $1 spent;
• Federal mitigation grants save $6 per $1 spent;
• Private-sector building retrofit saves $4 per $1 spent;
• Exceeding codes saves $4 per $1 spent; and
• Mitigating infrastructure saves $4 per $1 spent.