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Interagency Activities
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One of FEMA's top priorities is to collaborate with Federal agencies,
non-profit groups, and the private sector to develop, implement
and support local hazard mitigation activity. Since 1997, the Agency
has been heavily involved in numerous cooperative efforts related
to mitigation, and the Mitigation Directorate continues to address
this important priority both inside and outside the Agency.
An effective tool that FEMA uses to develop and strengthen effective
partnerships with other groups is the Memorandum of Understanding,
or MOU. Commonly used throughout the Federal government, an MOU
is a formal, non-binding agreement between two entities that clarifies
the missions of the parties involved, and discusses ways to coordinate
and develop mutually beneficial partnerships.
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FEMA's MOU strategy helps FEMA's Regional Offices coordinate their mitigation
activities with their regional counterparts. More importantly, the MOU
process is designed to assist FEMA and it's partners in their efforts
to help communities incorporate mitigation into their daily decision making
processes. Overall, they reflect the mutual desire of the involved parties
to utilize, coordinate, develop, and enhance programs, initiatives, networks,
and technical resources in order to help communities reduce their vulnerability
to natural hazard events.
Presently, the Agency is implementing MOUs with the following Federal
entities: the Economic Development Administration (EDA); the Department
of Energy (DOE); the Department of Transportation (DOT); the Natural Resource
Conservation and Development Service (NRCS - Dept. of Agriculture); and
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA - Dept. of Commerce).
Additionally, draft agreements are in their final stages of review with
the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the US Forest Service (USFS
- Dept. of Agriculture); the US Geological Survey (USGS - Dept of Interior);
National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA); and the Government
Services Administration (GSA).
In addition to collaborating with other Federal entities, FEMA's Mitigation
Division works closely with non-profit groups whose missions include the
concepts of "disaster resistance," "sustainability"
and "livability." Over the past four years, FEMA has developed
agreements with the Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM),
the National Emergency Management Association (NEMA), and the National
Fire Protection Association (NFPA), - groups who have long been associated
with FEMA's efforts to help communities reduce their risk to natural hazard
events, and, in turn, improve the "quality of life" at the community
level.
Finally, FEMA's collaborative efforts with the private sector play a
pivotal role in the success of FEMA's pre-disaster mitigation efforts.
FEMA's public-private partnerships are designed to encourage business
and industry to look "beyond their walls" to help their communities
become disaster resistant. FEMA has developed numerous partnerships with
the private sector at the National, state, and community levels. Mitigation Division,
for example, has developed partnerships with the Portland Cement Association
and KeepSafe Industries. These businesses are actively working with Mitigation Division,
states and communities by donating saferooms, as well as sponsoring and
conducting seminars, workshops, and conferences.
Working closely with other Federal Agencies, non-profits, and the private
sector has allowed FEMA to effectively help communities reduce their vulnerability
to natural hazard events. Overall, the cooperative agreements that the
Agency has developed with these entities will certainly go a long way
towards helping community leaders incorporate mitigation into their daily
decision making processes.
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You may contact your FEMA Regional Mitigation
Offices for more local information. This US
map shows the states divided by Regions.
Map Modernization's Cooperating
Technical Partners Initiative is another example of sharing
resources and partnering. The Flood Hazard Mapping
program has entered into partnerships with States and local
communities for the creation of flood hazard maps.
"FEMA's Mitigation Resources for Success CD" has more
information about our MOUs and links to Federal Agencies embedded
on the CD. You may order the CD, FEMA 372, through the FEMA publication
warehouse, by calling 1-800-480-2520
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