LMS Guidebook Supplement, Vulnerability Assessment, Part 2
STEP 6INCORPORATING THE INITIATIVES INTO THE STRATEGY
Overview of the development of the strategy
Following the prioritization process, the Working Group should include the initiatives in the Local Mitigation Strategy itself. The contents and format of the strategy need to accommodate the Working Group’s wishes as well as the quantity and type of information developed during its planning process. The proposed mitigation initiatives, prioritized in accord with the Working Group’s procedures, should be the focal point of the strategy document. After all, their successful implementation will be the force that will make Florida more resistant to the impacts of future disasters. There are some key issues, however, regarding documentation of the prioritized initiatives that should be considered.
Identifying a sponsor and source of funding
To facilitate implementation, each initiative in the strategy should have a designated "sponsor," e.g., the jurisdiction or organization responsible for its implementation. The capacity of the strategy to be implemented effectively would be seriously eroded if it were unclear who was responsible for each and every initiative. For a similar reason, the likely source of funding for implementation should also be identified, so that it is clear that implementation is intended and feasible. For those initiatives in which the source of funding is more uncertain, the Working Group should list a likely primary and secondary funding source.
Documenting the Initiatives and their justification
The Working Group should recognize that the Local Mitigation Strategy is intended to be useful to decision-makers within the community and the other organizations participating in its development and implementation. Therefore, as a document or series of documents, the strategy should enable these individuals to understand what each initiative actually is, why it has been proposed, who is expected to implement it, how it could be paid for, and when it would be implemented, if known.
It is also likely that the Local Mitigation Strategies of at least some Working Groups will include proposed initiatives that certain members of the community may object to for a variety of reasons. This makes the explanation of the initiatives, their justification and priority, even more important if the strategy is to be successfully adopted and implemented.
Facilitating implementation of the strategy
Whatever the final format of the strategy, it should facilitate adoption and implementation by those jurisdictions and organizations participating. Therefore, it may be helpful if the portions of the document applicable to specific participants, and the initiatives that will be their responsibility to implement, are easily recognized. If decision-makers can extract the portion(s) of the strategy applicable to them, they can more quickly understand its contents and take the appropriate action for its promulgation.
Tracking implementation of mitigation initiatives
The implementation process for a Local Mitigation Strategy is likely to stretch over several years. In addition, the Working Group will be actively engaged in keeping the strategy up-to-date in the future. Therefore, it will be necessary to incorporate a method for tracking of implementation and completion of initiatives, as well as monitoring their effectiveness in reducing the costs of disasters.