ABSTRACT
Natural disasters include floods, wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, snow and ice storms, avalanches, downpours, landslides, beach erosion, earthquakes, drought, and volcanic eruptions. To improve planning for natural hazards before disasters strike, Congress passed the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, which requires states and communities to draft hazard safety and mitigation plans to be eligible for Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds as well as all federal emergency management agency (FEMA) project mitigation grants. FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance program makes grants through the states to communities to buy up floodplains for permanent greenways. The hazards program includes educating residents about flooding, changing zoning and building regulations to mitigate flood damage, and preserving floodplains as open space. Since the mid-1970s, the United States geological survey has operated the National Landslide Hazards Program to conduct research and to respond to landslide disasters. The Pacific coast is especially vulnerable to landslides because of heavy winter rains combined with construction on hillsides and forest clear-cutting.
