National Hazard Mitigation Association (NHMA) and Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM): Collaboration Proposal to Disseminate Hazard Mitigation Policy through Action-Oriented Work
In light of recent federal shifts in national programs and policies, there is an increasing need to establish a unified front that advocates for comprehensive hazard mitigation. The Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM) and the National Hazard Mitigation Association (NHMA) share a commitment to advancing hazard mitigation policies for community resilience. Both organizations address the significant impacts of changing weather patterns, possess the experience to implement comprehensive mitigation initiatives, and represent broad professional networks that advocate for the best interests of communities across the United States.
Given the anticipated shift in responsibility and accountability from Federal Agencies to States, Territories, Tribes, and Local Jurisdictions (SLTTs), NHMA proposes a joint venture to strengthen hazard mitigation policy through a unified national approach. This collaboration would support emergency management and facilitate information dissemination to SLTTs through action-oriented work. By uniting emergency management organizations across the public and private sectors, we can effectively advance a national disaster risk reduction strategy that prioritizes public health and safety. We envision coordinated policy discussions and joint research efforts, conferences, communications, training, and seminars to support SLTT capacity development under a unified and streamlined framework. Additionally, centralized communication would enhance information distribution to SLTTs via executive briefings, perspective articles, and training materials that advocate for results-driven policy implementation. NHMA also recommends the assignment of key roles to engage stakeholders, coordinate operations, and communicate outcomes through a network of SLTT representatives. These roles would include executive committee members, liaisons, coordinators, communication officers, and participants from the policy committees of both NHMA and ASFPM.
In summary, NHMA believes that a stronger national commitment to hazard mitigation will ensure the safety required to endure unpredictable weather conditions, while addressing evolving policies and regulatory frameworks.
