This podcast delves into Eric Letvin's role at FEMA, discussing pre and post-disaster mitigation strategies. They explore FEMA's evolution, emphasizing mitigation vs. resilience outcomes. The episode also covers flood and wildfire mitigation efforts, FEMA's operational structure, and the importance of funding for disaster relief and mitigation.
FEMA focuses on pre and post-disaster mitigation programs to enhance community resilience.
FEMA has evolved from flood mapping to diverse disaster response programs under DHS.
Mitigation aims to reduce disaster impact, while resilience ensures swift community recovery post-disaster.
Prioritizing proactive funding for pre-disaster mitigation efforts to minimize disaster impact.
Deep dives
Eric Lethen's Career Journey and Role at FEMA
Eric Lethen is the Deputy Assistant Administrator for Hazard Mitigation at FEMA, leading pre- and post-disaster mitigation grant programs that enhance community resilience. With a background in engineering and consulting, he highlights the importance of learning from post-disaster assessments to improve infrastructure standards. His career spans between the private and public sector, focusing on hazard mitigation and risk reduction policy.
Overview of FEMA's History and Mission
FEMA, established in the 1970s, primarily specializes in flood mapping and insurance. Over time, its programs have evolved to address varied natural disasters, with a mission focused on aiding communities before, during, and after disasters. While FEMA transitioned to the Department of Homeland Security post-9-11, its core mission remains supporting communities in disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.
Distinguishing Mitigation and Resiliency
In discussing mitigation and resiliency, Eric Lethen emphasizes that while mitigation focuses on minimizing disaster effects, resilience represents the desired community outcome. Mitigation actions aim to reduce disaster impact, whereas resilience ensures swift community recovery and normal operations post-disaster. FEMA's initiatives target achieving resiliency outcomes through various programs and support activities.
Pre- and Post-Disaster Procedures for Flood Mitigation
Pre-disaster, FEMA mandates hazard mitigation plans for communities, facilitating grants to address recurring flood risks like stormwater management, levees, and home elevations. Post-disaster, communities tap into FEMA's mitigation grants post-declaration to fund recovery projects, prioritizing unmet needs such as infrastructure restoration and community resilience building. These procedures aim to enhance community preparedness and reduce flood-induced damages.
Importance of Proactive Building Code Adoption
FEMA advocates for proactive adoption of current building codes to enhance community resilience preemptively. Emphasizing that updated codes incorporate evolving hazard research, ensuring structures are built to withstand a spectrum of natural disasters. Improved enforcement of modern codes reflects a significant return on investment in reducing disaster impacts and enhancing community preparedness.
Emphasis on Pre-Disaster Mitigation and Funding Allocation
Highlighting the shift towards pre-disaster mitigation, FEMA acknowledges the importance of funding allocation for proactive measures over reactive post-disaster responses. Initiatives like the Build Back Better Act underscore Congress' support for directing resources towards hazard mitigation programs pre-event, aiming to minimize disaster suffering and increase community resilience. Increasing emphasis on pre-disaster funding signifies a strategic shift in disaster response approach.
Leaning on Research Reports for Climate Preparedness
Encouraging engagement with research reports like the National Climate Assessment, FEMA underscores the value of understanding scientific predictions to inform mitigation strategies. Utilizing comprehensive reports as roadmaps for future disaster preparedness, FEMA emphasizes the role of education and proactive mitigation efforts to minimize climate-related impacts. Research insights guide FEMA's collaborative efforts in enhancing community preparedness and resilience.
Addressing Wildfire Risk and Building Code Advancements
Managing evolving wildfire risks poses a technological and modeling challenge due to dynamic factors like wind, soil moisture, and fuel load. While complex, efforts in refining wildfire risk mapping reflect ongoing research pursuits to understand and address growing threats. Drawing insights from flood mitigation, FEMA highlights the need for updated building codes and innovative strategies to bolster urban resilience against changing climate-induced risks.
This episode is part of our Skilled Labor Series hosted by MCJ partner, Yin Lu. This series is focused on amplifying the voices of folks from the skilled labor workforce, including electricians, farmers, ranchers, HVAC installers, and others who are on the front lines of rewiring our infrastructure.
Eric directs FEMA's pre and post-disaster mitigation programs that support sustainable disaster resilient communities to avoid or reduce the loss of life, property and financial impacts of natural hazards. We talk about Eric's career journey, a brief history of FEMA and what the agency does before, during, and after natural hazards or disasters. We emphasize the importance of pre-disaster mitigation alongside talking about a new tranche of funding from the Infrastructure Bill going to support the work here.
In this episode, we cover:
[01:37]: Eric's role at FEMA and career path from engineering to hazard mitigation
[03:43]: FEMA's inception, evolution, and mission within DHS
[05:35]: Hazard mitigation vs. resilience outcomes
[06:29]: FEMA's expanded role in non-natural disaster management
[09:05]: Pre and post-disaster flood mitigation strategies and grant programs
[11:38]: Wildfire mitigation efforts and challenges amplified by climate change
[14:55]: FEMA's operational structure and budgeting for disaster relief and mitigation
[17:06]: Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds for resilience efforts
[19:03]: Examples of funded projects in disadvantaged communities
[20:17]: The significance of FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance program in the face of climate change
[22:56]: Advances in flood mapping technology and risk communication
[24:40]: Challenges in modeling wildfire risk and the dynamic nature of wildfire hazards
[26:34]: The importance of building codes in disaster readiness
[28:59]: The shift towards prioritizing pre-disaster mitigation funding
[30:00]: Lessons from past disasters on the value of proactive mitigation
