Executive summary 8 I. Introduction 26 II. State government capability 28
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- II. STATE GOVERNMENT CAPABILITY
I. INTRODUCTIONPursuant to Section 322 of the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000, the State of North Carolina has prepared a State Hazard Mitigation Plan. This Appendix to the State Hazard Mitigation Plan provides a description and analysis of the State’s capabilities to address the threats posed by natural hazards. It is organized into several subsections: Executive Summary I. Introduction II. State Government Capability III. Local Government Capability IV. Non-Profit Organization Capability V. Business and Industry Capability VI. Federal Government Capability VII. Funding Sources for Mitigation VIII. Legal Authority for Hazard Mitigation Each of these subsections provides a discussion and evaluation of the pertinent laws, regulations, pre-and post-disaster policies, programs and other capabilities related to hazard mitigation. The discussion emphasizes the ways that these capabilities can aid the mitigation efforts of the State, and also points out deficiencies or weaknesses in capability. Many of these weaknesses are addressed in the Mitigation Strategy section of the Plan. The Federal and State Government subsections of the Appendix are divided according to major departments and agencies within each respective level of government. Relevant programs, laws, and activities are described under the administrating department. In the case of programs that are administered collaboratively among one or more agencies (for instance, the North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program), the program is described under the agency that assumes primary responsibility. Although information contained in this Appendix was obtained from as many different sources as was possible, it is by no means an exhaustive listing of all the capabilities of our State. Staff of the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management conducted an review of agencies and programs at all levels of government, as well as non-profit and business and industry groups that have a bearing on hazard mitigation, emergency management, disaster relief, resource management, development, construction, or planning. Members of the State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group (SHMAG), the working group that developed the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, provided insight into their respective agencies’ or organizations’ capabilities, including updated descriptions of day to day operations as well as over-arching policies and long-term projects. Discussions that took place during meetings of the SHMAG helped determine which programs are beneficial to the planning process, as well as areas that need improvement. Information was also obtained from prior versions of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, official agency Web sites, publications, press releases, and personal interviews with agency and organization personnel. It is a major premise behind the State Hazard Mitigation Plan that the State will explore and take advantage of all available resources at its disposal. It is only through a coordinated and broad-based effort at all levels of government and within the private sector and non-profit community that we can be assured of incorporating mitigation principles into the decision-making processes that affect the built environment. In this way, North Carolinians can hope to reduce our present and future vulnerability to the impact of natural hazards. II. STATE GOVERNMENT CAPABILITYThis portion of the Capability Assessment discusses the capability of state government agencies in North Carolina to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards. Much of the information contained in this section was obtained from members of the State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group (SHMAG), the working group that developed the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Information was also obtained from prior versions of the State Hazard Mitigation Plan, official agency Web sites, publications, press releases, and personal interviews with agency personnel. Internal knowledge of the structure of state government and the few recent changes that have been made in this regard was also an integral part of the state capability assessment. Some of the mitigation capabilities described in this section of the Capability Assessment are geographically specific, such as the Coastal Area Management Act administered by the Division of Coastal Management, which pertains to the twenty counties that comprise the North Carolina Coastal Zone. Other mitigation measures are applicable throughout the State, such as the statewide mandatory building code administered by the Department of Insurance which in 2012 instituted a one foot freeboard requirement. Some mitigation capabilities are directed at a single hazard. The Floodplain Mapping Program, for example, continues to produce new, digitized maps that depict the extent of flood hazard areas for all the river basins in the State. Other mitigation activities cover the range of natural hazards in North Carolina. For instance, the Hazard Mitigation Planning Initiative (HMPI), conducted by the Division of Emergency Management, has proven to be one of the most successful statewide mitigation programs, promoting all-hazards mitigation planning at the local level, and serving as the umbrella program that supports a wide range of mitigation activities. With all the various agencies involved, and the myriad programs, policies, and practices that they each carry out, the issue of intergovernmental coordination is an ongoing task. The challenge to increase efficiency and effectiveness in state mitigation activity is being addressed in a number of creative and innovative ways—from the creation of task forces and advisory committees that cut across multiple agencies, to partnerships and initiatives that involve a wide variety of participants in the public, non-profit and private sectors. A prime example of the level of collaborative effort that the State has engaged in is the highly successful State Hazard Mitigation Advisory Group (SHMAG) that was convened to develop the State Hazard Mitigation Plan. Representatives from many state agencies, non-profit groups, industry trade associations, and academia worked together for many months to devise a stakeholder-driven, consensus based plan. (The make-up and activities of the SHMAG are described in detail under the Division of Emergency Management in the Department of Public Safety in this section of the Capability Assessment). Despite many these successful collaborations, North Carolina needs to bolster its efforts to increase interagency coordination. There are many departments and agencies within our state government that perform redundant and even counter-productive tasks. We could increase our efficiency, and thereby our overall capability, by searching for additional areas of mutual interest among different departments, and sharing resources and information to reach compatible goals. A key to any collaborative venture involves compatibility of data sources and uses among mitigation partners. North Carolina is doing a good job of collecting, analyzing, and archiving all sorts of data on hazards and their impacts. However, we need to strengthen our efforts to ensure compatibility in methods of data collection, analysis and application among various users. What follows is a description and evaluation of some of the authority, programs, and policies that either contribute to or undermine the capability of the State to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards. The section is organized according to the various departments that make up the executive branch of our State, along with their respective divisions, branches, offices, and other subdivisions that might have some bearing on natural hazard mitigation. Where appropriate, enabling legislation, sources of funding, and regulatory and enforcement powers of each agency are also described. A brief description of the structure of North Carolina state government is also included. State departments and agencies included in this section of the Capability Assessment include:
This State Government Capability Assessment is by no means an exhaustive listing of state mitigation capabilities, nor does this section describe every instance of where the State needs to strengthen our capabilities. The planning team read and evaluated the information provided regarding the structure of the state’s government and the capability of each agency and determined whether any major changes were made in the past 3 years. In many cases, the structure of government remains the same as it was during the 2010 update of this plan. In those cases, the text describing those agencies remains the same in the 2013 update as it did in the 2010 update. Directory: div div -> 9th May 1950 the schuman declaration div -> Supplemental demographic information div -> Introduction A. Purpose & Authority div -> This section includes changes made during the 2013 update div -> General occupational safety and health rules subdivision z toxic and hazardous substances div -> Computer Basics What is a computer div -> Mobile county, alabama regular board meeting div -> Privacy: Campus Living & Technology Download 1 Mb. Share with your friends:
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