Using benefit-cost review in mitigation planning: state and local mitigation planning
Mitigation planning how-to guide, no. 5
The purpose of a mitigation plan is to reduce the community’s vulnerability to hazards. After assessing its risks, a community may consider many mitigation options. FEMA's Mitigation Planning regulation supports the principle of cost-effectiveness by requiring hazard mitigation plans to have an action plan that includes a prioritization process that demonstrates a special emphasis on maximization of benefits over costs. The purpose of this guide is to help local jurisdictions understand how to apply the concepts of benefit-cost review to the prioritization of mitigation actions, and thereby meet the requirement of the rule.