Part 1 of the Local Mitigation Strategy Guidebook Supplement has described five steps in a methodical approach to completing a vulnerability assessment: assigning responsibility for the process, identifying hazards, mapping hazard areas, determining vulnerabilities and judging the relative risk each threat poses. As it begins these tasks, if the Working Group wants to have the benefit of the vulnerability assessment information from the "The Arbiter of Storms" (TAOS) modeling, it will be very important initially to ensure that the county property appraiser*s office has provided the data needed by the Department. Then, while the Department is completing the modeling effort on behalf of the county, the Working Group can utilize the suggestions given in Part 1 of the Supplement to undertake its own vulnerability assessment, incorporating the TAOS results whenever they become available

Part 2 describes the steps in an approach for Working Groups to use to identify and prioritize mitigation initiatives based on the results of the vulnerability assessment. Together, Parts 1 and 2 can provide Working Groups across Florida with a complete understanding of an objective and solidly-based technical approach to identifying the mitigation initiatives needed by the community and that should be included in their county's own Local Mitigation Strategy.