Douglas Disasters And Heritage Preservation

Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 Application to Heritage Resources Diane L. Douglas Statistical Research Inc.

Preservation in Peril 12th US/ICOMOS International Symposium March 11-15, 2009

DMA 2000


Amended Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 51211-5206)




Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning
Less expensive to identify and implement measures to mitigate potential damage to structures and resources, than rebuild after a disaster occurs




Reimbursement of salaries for time spent developing hazard mitigation plan





Provides financial support to states, cities, counties and tribes

Plans had to be finished by October 2004 to be eligible for HMGP funding; 5-year mandatory updates

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)


Grants for sustained mitigation measures to reduce or permanently eliminate long-term risks to property from natural hazards and their effects

Hazard Mitigation


Any sustained action taken to reduce or eliminate the longterm risk to human life and property from natural and manmade hazards

Hazard Mitigation Plans






San Diego County Office of Emergency Services and 18 incorporated cities within San Diego County Orange County Water District and 19 water districts within the Orange County Federated States of Micronesia Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians, California Concow Maidu of Mooretown Rancheria, California

FEMA How-to-Guides 386-1 to 386-9






Step-by step guides on how to develop and implement a hazard mitigation plan for states, tribes, counties, cities and special districts Considers all natural and man-made (accidents & terrorism) natural disasters Hazard Mitigation Plan update required every 5-years

http://www.fema.gov/plan/mitplanning/planning_resources.shtm#1

FEMA 386-6

Heritage Resources and Hazard Mitigation Plans


Integrating Cultural and Heritage Resources into:




Local Hazard Mitigation Plans Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plans State/Tribal Hazard Mitigation Plans

What is the Process?


Develop a Hazard Mitigation Working Group


First Responders, Jurisdictional Representatives and Cultural Resource Managers (agency archaeologists, museum directors)




Community Groups (various cultural and historical societies)

Identify Assets and Critical Facilities



Archival research, government and university databases, interviews with professionals and community members Map assets and critical facilities using GIS

GIS Map of Assets and Critical Facilities

Old Town Historic

Hospitals Fire Stations Police Stations Energy Transmission Water Transmission Large Fuel Tanks Museums Schools District Malls

Balboa Park

Identify Hazards






Archival research, interviews, government and university databases Some hazards to consider -- avalanches, coastal storms, earthquakes, fire, hurricanes, landslides, tornadoes, tsunamis Map hazards using GIS

Earthquake Fault Lines and Shake Potential Zones

Aridity, Fuel Load, Hill Slopes, and Wildfires

Assets and Hazards
Using GIS of assets and critical infrastructure and hazard data, determine which cultural/heritage resources would be destroyed or damaged by each hazard

Goals and Objectives
Ensure

that preserving significant heritage resources is included in the HMP Goals


Discuss importance of heritage resources to:
preserving community identity,
maintaining or developing heritage tourism,
future generations

Mitigation Plan and Implementation Strategy


Prioritize which resources should receive HMGP funds first
Which are most threatened by most probable hazards?
Which are most significant to local, national and international communities?
Perform cost-benefit analysis – most applicable to heritage tourist sites

Sahara Desert, Nouakchott Capitol of Mauritania

1940s Schoolhouse, San Diego County, California

Piazza San Marco, St. Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy

Identify Mitigation Measures



How to protect each cultural/heritage resource from hazards For each hazard and each resource consult with appropriate specialists to ensure:


proper treatment/strengthening of buildings and structures, appropriate flood control measures, appropriate measures to stop dune migration, adequate brush clearing, etcetera

Implement the Hazard Mitigation Plan





Prepare and submit grant applications Assign tasks and deadlines for implementation Ensure quality control on implementation of mitigation measures for heritage resources (monitoring) Report results in plan update

Challenges Prioritizing Heritage Resources



Competing with critical infrastructure (hospitals, waste water treatment plants, water supply, energy supply) Convince lead agency on HMP processes that heritage resources should be considered
Economics often considered over cultural significance (heritage tourism versus an undeveloped site)

Challenges Sacred Sites and Landscapes


Churches, monastaries, mosques, shrines, and sacred landscapes
With limited funding who determines which site is protected, and which is not?


Need to establish working group with cultural sensitivity




Professional facilitator for meetings that address sacred sites

Results of HMPG for San Diego OES and 18 Cities






100-ft fire breaks around all communities with high fire potential on adjacent lands Reinforcement of small check dams Barricades and increased security around significant public places, including some Heritage sites Better communication for emergency responders during disasters, helps minimize damage Shared Resources, Shared Response


Partnerships with Canada for use of planes in fire fighting

Balboa Park San Diego

Old Town San Diego