Articles 

"Avoiding Natural Disasters"
An article from the American Planning Association that points out the need for disaster mitigation and showcase communities that have implemented mitigation measures.

"Creating Sustainable and Disaster Resistant Communities" 
A working paper, delivered to the Aspen Global Change Institute, outlining detailed strategies for planning for and creating disaster-resistant, sustainable communities. 

"Nature Bats Last: The Politics of Floodplain Management"
Focuses on the forces that drive development in floodplains, how communities can learn more quickly to deal with the problem, and the distinguishing features and program components of communities with effective floodplain land-use regulations.

"Coloradan Helps Towns Rise Above"  
This February 27, 1997, article from Rocky Mountain News discusses the efforts of DOE community consultant Bill Becker to help communities change their relationship with natural disasters by moving to higher ground. 

"Confronting Hazards: Land-Use Planning for Sustainable Communities" 
This article from the January 1997 issue of the Natural Hazards Observer describes a book that will be available later this year. According to the article, the forthcoming book, which synthesizes over 20 years of scholarly research, represents "the first comprehensive examination of land-use planning and development management as ways to reduce societal vulnerability to natural hazards." 

"Mitigation from the Ground Up: Sustainable Cities in California"
This article, taken from the July 1996 issue of the Natural Hazards Observer, discusses disaster-resistant community design as the first, key step in building sustainable communities. 

"Addressing Your Community's Flood Problems: A Guide for Elected Officials"
Details how four localities addressed their flood problems and, at the same time, met multiple community needs and goals.

"American Experts in Sustainable Design Offer Assistance in the Rebuilding of Kobe" 
This paper outlines a plan for American professionals to assist with rebuilding efforts following the devastating earthquake that hit Kobe, Japan, in January 1995. The article includes a good overview discussion of what an environmental design charrette is, how the process works, what facets of community development are addressed in the process, and other key ingredients needed for a successful sustainable development project. 

"Hurricane Damage to Residential Structures: Risk and Mitigation" 
This November 1996 paper describes the damage that can be caused to houses by hurricanes and strong winds and outlines construction steps that can be taken to help make homes more sustainable in the face of the violent storms.  

"The Miami Declaration on Disaster Reduction and Sustainable Development" and "A Strategic Plan of Action" 
These documents were developed at the Hemispheric Congress on Disaster Reduction and Sustainable Development held last fall in Miami. The Congress brought together 200 key stakeholders from North, South, and Central America and the Caribbean. The documents "represent the congressional participants’ position that disaster reduction and sustainable development are mutually supportive goals." The strategic plan also contains the "first steps of a policy agenda that ensures linkage between disaster reduction and sustainable development."  

"Energy Efficiency as an Insurance Loss-Prevention Strategy 
This comprehensive paper by Evan Mills of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Center for Building Science "illustrates 60 specific ways in which targeted energy-efficiency improvements can translate into reduced risk of insured losses."  

"Warming Up to Solar Energy"  
This article by Brenda Biondo appeared in the First Quarter 1996 issue of the Solar Industry Journal. It discusses how both the insurance and banking industries are taking a closer look at solar energy technologies and their potential to slow global warming. The Solar Industry Journal is published by the Solar Energy Industries Association. 

"Storm Warnings: Climate Change Hits the Insurance Industry"  
This comprehensive article was published by Christopher Flavin in the November/December 1994 issue of World Watch magazine.  

"Climate Change and Storm Damage: The Insurance Costs Keep Rising"  
This is a follow-up to the above article, also written by Christopher Flavin. It appeared in World Watch’s January/February 1997 issue. 

"Community Involvement Shapes Vision for Mooser Creek"
This fact sheet introduces a community vision plan in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that strives to reduce damage from flooding of Mooser Creek, as well as to promote sustainable development of the watershed.

Publications 

Planning for a Sustainable Future: the Link Between Hazard Mitigation and Livability
This Federal Emergency Management Agency booklet illustrates how communities, either in planning for hazard mitigation before disaster strikes, or in initiating recovery planning after being struck by a disaster, can come out stronger, by integrating the concepts and principles of sustainable development into each phase of natural hazards planning: preparedness and prevention, recovery and reconstruction. The full 42-page publication is online as a PDF. 

Best Practices in Natural Hazards Planning and Mitigation (PDF)
The Colorado Governor's Office of Smart Growth released this report to help small cities and towns prevent and mitigate damage from fires, floods and droughts. The report describes proven strategies already implemented by communities in Colorado.

Nature’s Power on Demand: Renewable Energy Systems as Emergency Power Sources 
This publication details how renewable energy systems, primarily solar electric or photovoltaic systems, can provide valuable power during the response phase of natural disasters and can prevent power outages in homes and businesses when the utility grid fails.

Rebuilding for the Future 
This publication tells the story of how the Village of Soldiers Grove, Wisconsin, built a new town center away from the floodplain and applied the principles of sustainable development (energy efficiency and renewable energy) to this new town.  

Rebuilding Your Flooded Home 
This publication details how to apply principles of sustainable development to the task of replacing a home after a flood.  

From Rooftop to River: Tulsa's Approach to Floodplain and Stormwater Management 
This publication profiles a program in Tulsa designed to control flooding and its damage to property.  Includes chapters on Tulsa's flooding history, the policy framework, and the program's key principles. 

From Harm's Way: Flood-Hazard Mitigation in Tulsa, Oklahoma
A report that details some of the lessons learned by residents in Tulsa, flood by flood, over generations, and its flood-hazard mitigation efforts to reduce future damage.

The Local Mitigation Strategy – A Guidebook for Florida’s Cities and Counties  
This December 1996 publication by the Florida Department of Community Affairs’ Bureau of Recovery and Mitigation outlines various options that local leaders can use to make their communities more disaster-resistant. To view this document, select "All Mitigation is Local" at the Bureau’s Web site.  

Planning for Disaster Debris 
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response prepared this publication to help communities prepare for and recover more quickly from the increased solid waste generated by natural disasters. Case studies include debris management following the Northridge Earthquake, the 1993 Midwest Floods, and Hurricanes Andrew, Hugo, and Iniki. It can be accessed as an Adobe Acrobat PDF file or an ASCII text file.

Last updated: January 31, 2005

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