When it comes to reducing the impact of natural disasters, mitigation improves safety, prevents property loss, and keeps disruption to a minimum, according to a report by the National Institute of Building Sciences.
The nation recently has faced a number of dangerous phenomena, including tornadoes in the south and earthquakes in Idaho and Utah. The Natural Hazards Mitigation Saves 2019 Report represents the most comprehensive benefit-cost analysis of natural hazard mitigation, from adopting up-to-date building codes and exceeding codes to the upgrade of utility and transportation infrastructure.
“While COVID-19 presents our nation with unprecedented challenges, natural disasters are continuing,” says Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, president and CEO of NIBS. “Millions of Americans are exposed to these disasters. Mitigation is a crucial step to keeping our homes, businesses, and communities safe.”
New to this year’s report is the extensive coverage—more than 100 pages—addressing the strengthening of existing buildings to prepare for hazards like floods, high winds, fires, and earthquakes. This was funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. According to NIBS research, 127 million people are exposed to hurricanes, 85 million to earthquakes, 42 million to floods, and 59 million to fire.

“Our work is far from over. There are many layers of mitigation. The property owner and communities that have begun to protect against disasters must continue, and those that have not must start.” — Lakisha A. Woods, CAE, president & CEO, NIB

NIBS councils and partners are looking at next steps to increase the nation’s mitigation investment by leveraging public assistance with private sector investments. The NIBS Multi-Hazard Mitigation Council calls for a COVID-19 stimulus package to help recover the nation’s economy and prepare cities and communities for long-term disaster resilience and stability.
“Our work is far from over,” Woods says. “There are many layers of mitigation. The property owner and communities that have begun to protect against disasters must continue, and those that have not must start.”
The Atlantic Hurricane Season begins June 1. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts a stronger-than-normal hurricane season this year. These hurricanes undoubtedly will cause mitigation spending shortcomings by both federal and local governments, making even more vulnerable a number of communities that can barely handle additional blows in the current environment.
What’s Next
The goal of Mitigation Saves is to help communities, building owners, and representatives in the private finance, insurance, and real estate industries initiate a greater mitigation dialogue. The National Institute of Building Sciences also aims to assist Congress and policymakers to develop effective federal programs that support pre-disaster mitigation and encourage more mitigation investments from the public and private sectors.
For more information, including comprehensive two-pagers on various kinds of natural hazards and the costs associated with mitigation, visit https://www.nibs.org/mitigationsaves.

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Mitigation — A look back
The National Institute of Building Sciences has studied mitigation for more than two decades. In 2005, NIBS studied the value of mitigation. In 2016, the original report was revisited and expanded.
Specifically, Mitigation Saves looks closely at:
Building code requirements — Model building codes serve as the baseline to protect our built environment, setting minimum safety requirements for buildings. Compared with past (1990s-era codes), modern codes improve building resilience to natural disasters and save $11 for every $1 invested.
Federal grants — Federally funded grants to study mitigation have resulted in a national average benefit of $6 to every $1 invested in upfront mitigation costs. Every state in the nation is estimated to experience $10 million in benefits from federal grants to mitigate flood, wind, earthquake, or fire. The majority of states experience at least $1 billion in benefits.
Retrofit — Updating utilities, transportation facilities, and existing buildings is a critical component of mitigation. Water, wastewater, electricity, rail, roads, highways, telecommunications, and existing building stock must be better positioned to resist future disasters.