Governors and Hazard Mitigation Grants Management: Observations of State and Local Officials
Publication: Natural Hazards Review
Volume 23, Issue 4
Abstract
This paper describes hazard mitigation grants management activities undertaken by governors, an area that remains understudied. Governors play important roles in other grants management activities, and these actions have the potential to improve hazard mitigation shortcomings. Findings were derived from two projects: (1) a national survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) that explored their perceptions of the role of governors in the implementation of federal hazard mitigation programs and policies, and (2) semistructured interviews with individuals who were involved in the implementation of innovative local hazard mitigation grant programs. SHMO survey responses indicate limited engagement in several activities related to FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants. The results of the semistructured interviews show that some governors play important roles in hazard mitigation grants management activities, including facilitating partnerships and governance strategies, guiding state hazard mitigation priorities, and negotiating and securing hazard mitigation funding. Further research is needed to understand why governors assume active or passive roles in hazard mitigation grants management activities.
Practical Applications
It is important to understand the hazard mitigation grants management activities undertaken by governors, because their actions have the potential to improve risk reduction efforts across the US, an issue that remains understudied. Information gathered during this study drew from two projects, including a national survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers, who administer FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, and personal interviews conducted with those who implemented innovative local hazard mitigation grant programs. Key grants management issues explored included reviewing hazard mitigation policies, setting HMA priorities and approving hazard mitigation plans, attending state agency meetings, and briefing legislators and members of Congress. The results of the survey showed that most governors played a limited role in hazard mitigation grants management, whereas interviews suggest that some governors played important roles in facilitating hazard mitigation partnerships, guiding state hazard mitigation priorities, and negotiating and securing non-federal hazard mitigation funding. The combined findings suggest that the active or passive roles assumed by governors may further the disparities across states regarding their ability to manage HMA grants effectively.
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Data Availability Statement
Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available in a repository online in accordance with funder data-retention policies. The research instruments used in this study can be accessed on DesignSafe (Smith et al. 2020; Vilá et al. 2021). Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are proprietary or confidential in nature and may be provided only with restrictions.
Acknowledgments
Samiksha Bhattarai, Samata Gyawali, and Claire Henkel assisted with data collection associated with this paper. This material is based upon work supported by the US Department of Homeland Security under Grant Award No. 2015-ST-061-ND0001-01. The views and conclusions contained herein are those of the authors and should not be interpreted as necessarily representing the official policies, either expressed or implied, of the US Department of Homeland Security.
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Published In
Natural Hazards Review
Volume 23 • Issue 4 • November 2022
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Jan 12, 2022
Accepted: Jun 8, 2022
Published online: Aug 23, 2022
Published in print: Nov 1, 2022
Discussion open until: Jan 23, 2023
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Asphalts
- Buildings
- Business management
- Construction engineering
- Construction management
- Disaster risk management
- Disasters and hazards
- Engineering fundamentals
- Engineering materials (by type)
- Facilities (by type)
- Facility management
- Federal government
- Government
- Innovation
- Materials engineering
- Mitigation and remediation
- Organizations
- Practice and Profession
- Project management
- Structural engineering
- Structures (by type)
- Surveys (non-geomatic)
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