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MITIGATION
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The City of Austin implements many hazard mitigation activities designed to eliminate, reduce, or postpone the impact of future disasters. Reducing the physical, financial, and emotional losses caused by disasters is critical to speeding up recovery and maintaining the sustainability of our community. OEM provides technical assistance for mitigation projects to city departments as well as to the community.
Below are sample mitigation activities that the City of Austin has implemented:
- Research
Hazard analysis and vulnerability assessment studies are an important component for determining what the risks are for our community. The results of these studies are vital to the development of master plans and the prioritization of funds for mitigation activities. A recent study sponsored by the Office of Emergency Management surveyed the wildfire risks for west Austin.
- Warning and monitoring
Hazards are unpredictable by nature, but systems can be put into place to monitor hazardous conditions, allowing us to alert the public of potential dangers. One of Austin's most valuable monitoring tools is the flood early warning system which was installed after the 1981 Memorial Day flood. In additon, City departments work together to maintain a network of radio, web, and other media warning methods to alert the public of impending problems.
- Building standards
Building standards specify how buildings are constructed or renovated. The City of Austin has many building codes to help reduce the risk and impacts of hazards such as fire and flood.
- Development regulations
The City of Austin has adopted regulations for the location, type, and intensity of new development for various safety and environmental reasons. For example, there are strict regulations against development in the 100-year floodplain. It is not sound fiscal policy to allow people to build in areas susceptible to documented hazards, especially when tax payers spend billions of dollars each year to help others recover from disasters.
- Capital improvement projects (CIPs)
CIPs are implemented on City-owned infrastructure to solve existing problems such as erosion and flooding. They are commonly funded using bonds, departmental operating funds, or fees. Some example flood CIPs are: flood detention ponds, storm drain upgrades and creek channel modifications.
- Land and property acquisition
The City sometimes purchases land for CIPs and other projects. In some of the extremely high flood hazard areas along Shoal, Williamson, and Onion Creeks, the City offered to buyout homes in the floodplain. Homeowners in these high risk areas voluntarily agreed to sell their home to the City. The homes were then demolished and the land converted into permanent green space. Funding for home buyouts is very sporadic, and is usually provided by Federal and private grants.
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