Executive summary 8 I. Introduction 26 II. State government capability 28


IV. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CAPABILITY



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IV. NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION CAPABILITY

There are numerous non-profit organizations in North Carolina that help us reduce our vulnerability to natural hazards. Some of these organizations focus primarily on structural mitigation (the Blue Sky Foundation, for instance); some provide assistance during times of disaster (such as the Red Cross). Many other groups may not be directly involved in mitigation or disaster work, but nevertheless contribute to the State’s efforts to increase resiliency. Some of these organizations work actively to carry out programs and projects, others provide sources of funds, while others serve in an advocacy or advisory capacity for their respective constituencies. This section of the Capability Assessment describes a few of the not-for-profit organizations and associations that operate in North Carolina that either directly or indirectly serve the purposes of hazard mitigation.


While a few non-profit organizations have participated as members of the State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group, the State of North Carolina should be more aggressive in its outreach and solicitation of the non-profit sector to participate in the formulation and implementation of state hazard mitigation policy. Many non-profit organizations seek to accomplish goals that closely align with the goal of reducing our State’s vulnerability to hazards, and could prove to be a valuable resource to reach that goal. Many organizations can tap into vast sources of funds that are otherwise inaccessible to government agencies, while other organizations have troops of volunteers at the ready to work for their cause. The active involvement of these stakeholders in efforts by the State to increase resiliency can only increase the likelihood of our eventual success.

THE BLUE SKY FOUNDATION

The Blue Sky Foundation of North Carolina is a non-profit corporation chartered for the purpose of encouraging hazard resistant construction. The Foundation provides information, public education, and professional training that promote safer construction, wise land use, disaster mitigation and sustainable development. The initial Board of Directors represents a variety of interests including: home builders, consumers, local government, building officials, and state agencies. A representative from the Blue Sky Foundation serves on the State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group.


Blue Sky was launched in 1995 as a joint project of local, state, and federal agencies; corporate contributors; academic institutions; and private citizens. The aim of “Blue Sky Phase I” (1995-1997) was to promote the widespread understanding of natural hazards and their potential impacts on buildings, infrastructure, and communities. Emphasis was given to hands-on training for those groups that have direct roles in siting, design, and construction of new buildings, including building officials, material suppliers, builders, architects, and inspectors. With support from NCDEM, FEMA, and the Town of Southern Shores, a model demonstration home and training center was constructed in Southern Shores. It incorporates state-of-the-art techniques that can be showcased and used to support the training. To measure wind loads during extreme events, researchers from the Johns Hopkins University installed sensors in the home. Real-time data is collected during coastal storms to assess the effectiveness of various retrofitting techniques installed throughout the building.
A straightforward “problem” and “solution” approach was adopted in the Blue Sky training programs. Following Hurricane Fran, there was ample evidence of building failure, ranging from improperly anchored houses that were lifted off their foundations, to poorly attached roof sheathing that was detached by high winds. Through a coalition of 22 corporate partners and eight research institutions, training programs were combined to focus on hazard-resistant construction.
Blue Sky Phase II started in the fall of 1998 with the establishment of the nonprofit Blue Sky Foundation. The Foundation has several ongoing initiatives that help it achieve its mission including:
Hazard Resistant Construction:

  • Field research on impacts of recent wind events on housing performance

  • Saferoom/stonger home market research, economic and technical evaluation

  • Developing new and retrofit wind resistant building manual

  • Development of a hazard resistant rating system for buildings

  • Promoting hazard resistant voluntary guidelines

  • Education and training programs for construction industry and public

Hazard Resistant Community Development



  • Developing exemplary hazard resistant community criteria

  • Facilitating the development of a reward system for hazard resistant construction and development

  • Hosting conferences and public policy discourse on the risk of hazards

  • Training for planning, real estate, construction, insurance and hazard response professionals

  • Providing wind, flood hazard, risk and resource information



Executive Order No. 25: North Carolina Showcase State Partnership for Natural Disaster Resistance and Resilience

Blue Sky Foundation was ordered by Governor Easley in July, 2002 to implement Executive Order No. 25 in collaboration with NCDEM. The Executive Order proclaims the State of North Carolina as a “Showcase State for Natural Disaster Resistance and Resilience” as a means to further reduce the vulnerability of our citizens and the built environment to the risks associated with natural hazards.
Executive Order No. 25 names the following partners in the Showcase State:


  • NC Department of Public Safety

  • Blue Sky Foundation

  • NC Department of Insurance

  • Nationwide Insurance

  • Royal and SunAlliance Insurance

  • State Farm Fire and Casualty Company

  • Institute for Business and Home Safety

  • Independent Agents Association of NC

  • University of NC at Chapel Hill,

  • Department of City and Regional Planning

  • NC State University Cooperative Extension Service

  • NC League of Municipalities

  • Land’s End Development Companies

  • Rufty Homes, Inc.

  • Old Station Corporation/Sykes Construction

  • Carolinas Concrete Masonry Association

  • NC Sea Grant

  • Federal Emergency Management Agency

  • NC Baptist Men

  • Local governments

  • Business community

The Executive Order lays out numerous mitigation activities to be undertaken by the Showcase State partnership. These initiatives include:




  1. Identify government agencies, private sector and nonprofit entities responsible and accountable for implementing actions of each of the areas listed below. Executives with authority and accountability in these areas will coordinate their respective planning and develop a collaborative five-year strategy together, with one-year action plans.

  2. Conduct a statewide hazard identification and risk assessment for all natural hazards in our state, including providing the assistance and training to local governments needed to undertake jurisdictional level assessments.

  3. Develop partnerships between stakeholder businesses and the public sector to identify mitigation opportunities and better coordinate preparedness, response and recovery activities. Partnerships should include critical businesses involved in disaster recovery operations (i.e., utilities, communications, transportation, food/water suppliers, and medical facilities) and those businesses whose losses would impact the ability of the local and state economy to recover.

  4. Promote and support the adoption and enforcement of a current model code by the state and promote the voluntary code-plus Fortified … for Safer Living program for new construction.

  5. Encourage the use of state and local hazard risk assessments to inform land use decisions, particularly those that place people and structures in harm’s way.

  6. Maintain a state hazard mitigation plan, develop a disaster recovery plan and provide technical assistance to local governments to assist in the development of Hazard Mitigation Plans as required under the Disaster Mitigation Act of 200 and North Carolina SC 2001-214.

  7. Ensure that local governments are given the information needed to make an informed decision regarding participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, including the implications for disaster assistance stated in SC 2001-214. Encourage participation in the National Flood Insurance Program and ensure compliance among participants. Promote and support participation in the National Flood Insurance Program Community Rating System.

  8. Incorporate disaster protection into capital improvements budgets of public lifelines and critical facilities, such as utilities, telecommunication systems, transportation infrastructure, water supply, hospitals, wastewater treatment facilities, etc. and promote incorporation of disaster protection into capital improvements of similar private facilities.

  9. Encourage the development of a disaster-resistant state, including the encouragement of disaster-resistant communities within the state, in collaboration with the Blue Sky Foundation’s Exemplary Community Initiative, NCDEM’s Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative (HMPI) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster-resistant community initiatives.

  10. Develop public outreach and awareness programs on the importance of mitigating damages caused by natural disasters and provide information on how citizens can prevent or reduce property damages as a result of a natural disaster event.

  11. Support the appropriate incorporation of natural hazard awareness and reduction programs and information into school and college curricula.

  12. Support the Institute for Business and Home Safety and its partners in the nonstructural retrofit of nonprofit childcare centers through cooperative public information efforts.

  13. Conduct training for local government officials, state agencies, builders and other design professionals regarding the use of mitigation techniques in land use and building construction decisions. Encourage best practices above and beyond building code requirements.

  14. Identify specific incentives and disincentives for implementing mitigation measures in the areas of regulation, policy, social values and in the economic and environmental sectors.

  15. Continue support of the North Carolina Mapping Initiative in its efforts to re-map the State’s floodplains.




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