Estimating the value of foresight: aggregate analysis of natural hazard mitigation benefits and costs

摘要: Hazard mitigation planners claim that foresighted present actions and investments produce significant future benefits. However, they have difficulty in supporting their claims, since previously evidence typically was derived from individual case studies. Constituents decision makers are often sceptical, believing cases either inapplicable to situation or non-randomly selected support a particular view. Planners need objective based on large body of experience the for mitigation. Such is unique contribution recent U.S. study found each dollar spent three federal natural hazard grant programs (the Mitigation Grant Program, Project Impact, Flood Assistance Program) saves society an average $4 avoided losses. Complementing aggregate benefit-cost analysis with community-based evaluations, yielded insights how can improve long-term community resilien...