Today, urban vulnerability encompasses a wider range of issues than ever before. Previously known vulnerabilities have become more acute as possible components of a terrorist threat. ICF International's approach to urban hazard mitigation offers timely and tested strategies to address these vulnerabilities holistically, linking their assessment to the implementation of sustainable prevention and risk reduction measures.

ICF Awarded HHS BPA for Training Development and Related Services in Public Health Emergency Preparedness Homeland Security Strategic Planning for Urban Areas Measuring Economic Costs of Terrorist Attacks Urban Hazard Mitigation Fact Sheet

Sustainable hazard mitigation involves identifying hazards, assessing vulnerability, planning strategically, and investing in policies and practices, such as disaster-resilient building design and smart land use in high-hazard areas, to reduce the impacts of disasters on communities. Urban hazard mitigation recognizes that the density and design of urban settings magnify the challenges of mitigating the impacts of natural disasters and of preventing the occurrence of power outages, transportation accidents, resource shortages, environmental damage, and criminal events. The billions of dollars spent recovering from catastrophic events and the number of lives and properties endangered can be reduced through strategic application of approaches that can reduce the risks associated with natural or technological hazards and complement a city's homeland security goals.

ICF International has designed strategic urban hazard mitigation approaches that marry the expertise of our emergency management staff with the policy and regulatory support staff with expertise in community building, energy, transportation, environment, and information technology. Key features of our approach include a quantitative methodology for prioritizing proposed mitigation measures and a review of existing plans and policies-ranging from land use to transportation to emergency preparedness-to ensure that mitigation measures are fully integrated into a community's urban planning and homeland security strategies.

SELECTED PROJECTS

Urban Hazard Mitigation Strategies Design Strategies for Protecting Public Infrastructure 1997 Grand Forks Revitalization Project

DETAILS OF SELECTED PROJECTS

Urban Hazard Mitigation Strategies Design ICF International has produced urban hazard mitigation strategies for local, regional, state, multi-state, and national programs. This experience ranges from providing strategies for South Florida and for the State of Georgia Health Department, to implementing pre- and post-disaster strategies for the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These activities include specific planning and implementation approaches to mitigating, preparing for, responding to, and recovering from natural, technological, and terrorist events. ICF International has worked on public/private-sector partnerships, associations with the scientific and research community, and marketing and outreach approaches. Strategies for Protecting Public Infrastructure ICF International helped 11 cities in South Florida, including the cities of Miami, North Miami, and North Miami Beach, to develop mitigation strategies that are consistent with county and state growth management strategies. ICF International worked with local leaders to: identify vulnerabilities inventory each critical facility, repetitive loss facility, hazardous materials site, and historical flood facility in the area develop draft policy and structural mitigation measures develop procedures for prioritizing municipal mitigation measures ICF International also conducted a thorough review of current planning documents to ensure these mitigation measures are consistent with established policy. 1997 Grand Forks Revitalization Project ICF International led a team in support of the efforts to rebuild the flood- and fire-ravaged city of Grand Forks, North Dakota. ICF International housing experts helped to develop and implement financing strategies for the construction of 500 new single-family housing units and the rehabilitation of more than 1,000 existing homes and apartments. The ICF International technical assistance team also provided organizational development, strategic planning, and growth management support to the city to help it redevelop in a sustainable way.