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Description:
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According to the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (P .L . 106 -390 ) , and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA ) subsequent Interim Final Rule (44 CFR Parts 201 and 206 ) , local governments are required to write and gain approval for a Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP ) . Once the plan has been approved by FEMA , the authoring jurisdiction (s ) is eligible to apply for and receive federal grant funding through programs such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP ) and the Pre -Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM ) . A pilot study conducted on the completion of HMPs revealed that over 90 % of plans were completed multi -jurisdictionally , although approximately two -thirds of local governments in the United States remain without plans . An examination of disaster management literature reveals that planning activities and specifically the role of multi -jurisdictional cooperation in these activities , remains poorly understood . The analysis presented in this dissertation includes that of the pilot study , the creation of a conceptual model of emergency management in the United States , and the results of a statistical analysis of the cost to single and multi -jurisdictional planning entities for the creation of a HMP . The results of the analysis indicate that the cost of a HMP varies significantly depending on four community factors , and can be approximated using a regression model . The recommendation is made that multi -jurisdictional planning efforts be highly favored over single -jurisdictional ones for cost -reducing purposes , particularly for those jurisdictions which experience a low frequency of natural hazards . Questions regarding the role of multi -jurisdictional entities in the mitigation of natural disasters are also recommended for potential avenues of future research . |