Goals and Objectives – NYC Hazard Mitigation Plan

The goals and objectives of the HMP represent New York City’s long-term vision, which guides its strategies and actions in reducing the impact of natural hazards.

Following the 2024 HMP workshops, the Planning Team sent the 2019 HMP goals and objectives to the Steering Committee, requesting review and revision based on the changes and/or policy evolutions that have occurred since the last HMP and workshops.

Much of this feedback reflected an increased awareness of climate change and social vulnerability, and the importance of practical and nature-based solutions.

GOALS	OBJECTIVES
1. PROTECT PUBLIC HEALTH AND SAFETY	1.1 – Identify and reduce the health and safety impacts of hazards on vulnerable populations. 1.2 – Improve and promote systems that provide early warning communications during and prior to an emergency. 1.3 – Strengthen the enforcement of state and local building and health codes and support other structural interventions to reduce vulnerability. 1.4 – Develop strategies to reduce public health risk to natural and non-natural hazards. 1.5 – Improve community engagement and outreach by organizations and agencies that provide services to vulnerable populations.
2. INVEST IN PROPERTY PROTECTION	2.1 – Implement mitigation programs that promote reliability of lifeline systems to minimize impacts from hazards, and expedite recovery in an emergency. 2.2 – Consider known hazards when identifying sites for new facilities, substantial retrofits, and utility systems. 2.3 – Improve/create redundancies for critical networks such as water, transportation, energy, sewer, digital, data and power, and communications. 2.4 – Adopt and enforce public policies to promote resilient development and enhance safe construction in high hazard areas. 2.5 – Integrate new hazard and risk information into building codes and land use planning mechanisms. 2.6 – Educate public officials, developers, realtors, contractors, building owners and the general public about hazard risks and building requirements. 2.7 – Promote appropriate mitigation of all public and privately –owned property within the city’s jurisdiction including but not limited to, residential units, commercial structures, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and infrastructures systems. 2.8 – Incorporate effective mitigation strategies into capital improvement projects within the city. 2.9 – Promote post-disaster mitigation as part of repair and recovery. 2.10 – Encourage the development and incorporation of innovative technological solutions without compromising neighborhood or building character.
3. FOSTER AN ECONOMY THAT PROMOTES MITIGATION	3.1 – Form partnerships to leverage and share resources. 3.2 – Develop feasible plans that restore critical business operations post disaster. 3.3 – Partner with private sector, including small businesses, to promote structural and non-structural hazard mitigation as part of standard business practices. 3.4 – Educate businesses about contingency planning citywide, targeting small businesses and those located in high risk areas. 3.5 – Partner with private sector to promote employee and employer education about disaster preparedness at work and at home. 3.6 – Encourage federal/state/local government partners to provide more funding opportunities for mitigation strategy investment.
4. CREATE A HEALTHY & EQUITABLE ENVIRONMENT	4.1– Advance understanding about the relationship between climate change and natural hazards. 4.2 – Increase social resilience by improving knowledge of current and future climate-related hazards and promoting community-based mitigation strategies. 4.3 – Develop hazard mitigation and climate change adaptation policies that prevent long-term negative effects on the environment. 4.4 – Encourage mitigation strategies in socially (e.g., age, poverty, race, disability) and physically (floodplain) vulnerable neighborhoods.
5. PROMOTE PUBLIC AWARENESS OF HAZARD RISK AND MITIGATION	5.1 – Improve public outreach and access to hazard information, data, and maps to enhance understanding of natural hazards and the risk they pose. 5.2 – Improve the quality of information about hazards through the creation of searchable databases and data visualizations using all available evidence and scientific analysis on hazards, risks and vulnerabilities. 5.3 – Improve public knowledge of natural and non-natural hazards and protective measures so individuals appropriately prepare for and respond to such hazards.