Natural Hazards and Public Policy: Recommendations for Public Policies to Mitigate the Effects of Natural Hazard Exposures in the United States

摘要

A number of analyses are performed as background information to policy plan formulation. A risk analysis considers the natural hazard exposures and losses in the United States. Technology and cost analyses outline hazard mitigation alternatives. Future hazard exposures and losses associated with alternative mitigations are reviewed. Public problems analyses consider the loss experiencing parties, the mitigation-involved parties, the mitigation-constraining parties, and the intrinsic and instrumental candidate public problems. Past and present public approaches to the management of natural hazards are reviewed. Three policy options are offered: a 'do nothing' approach, continuing current practices and policies as they are; the initiation of dramatic new changes in current policy; or the concentration of current activities on a 'fine tuning' of the current system. Based upon the selection of the third option, a policy plan of seven points is outlined. Recommendations for public policy action are then made for the Federal, state, and local levels of government, as well as for private entities.