ABSTRACT
A profound change in governmental disaster management has occurred during the last two decades. Gone are the days of ‘hunkering down’ and riding out the hazard event with a command and control mentality that only focused on cleanup and the rescue of survivors. In its place is an emphasis on the reduction of loss of life and property through mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. The impetus for change was spurred largely by the costly disasters of the last decade: the Loma Prieta earthquake and Hurricane Hugo (1989), Hurricane Andrew (1992), the Midwest floods (1993 and 1995), the Northridge earthquake (1994) and, most recently, Hurricane Floyd (1999). Pressed by Congress, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) reprioritized its mission toward reducing future hazard impacts by implementing the National Mitigation Strategy (FEMA, 1995).
