ALL-HAZARDS MITIGATION PLAN
MITIGATION STRATEGY
Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(i): The mitigation strategy shall include a description of mitigation
goals to reduce or avoid long-term vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.
OVERVIEW
This section of the Plan provides the blueprint for USC to follow in becoming less vulnerable to its
identified hazards. It is based on general consensus of the USC Planning Team and the findings
and conclusions of the Risk Assessment (Section 5: Hazard Identification and Analysis and Section
6: Vulnerability Assessment). It consists of the following four subsections:
 Introduction
 Mitigation Goals
 Identification of Mitigation Techniques
 Selection of Mitigation Techniques for USC DRU
INTRODUCTION
RVIEW
The intent of the Mitigation Strategy is to provide USC with the goals that will serve as guiding
principles for future mitigation policy and project administration, along with an analysis of
mitigation techniques deemed available to meet those goals and reduce the impact of identified
hazards. It is designed to be comprehensive, strategic and functional in nature:
 In being comprehensive, the development of the strategy includes a thorough review of all
hazards and identifies extensive mitigation measures intended to not only reduce the future
impacts of high risk hazards, but also to assist the University achieve compatible economic,
environmental and social goals.
 In being strategic, the development of the strategy ensures that all policies and projects to
be proposed for implementation under the USC Disaster Resistant University Plan are
consistent with pre-identified, long-term planning goals.
 In being functional, each proposed mitigation action is linked to established priorities and
assigned to specific departments or individuals responsible for their implementation with
target completion deadlines. When necessary, funding sources are identified that can be
used to assist in project implementation.
The first step in designing the Mitigation Strategy includes the identification of USC’s system-wide
mitigation goals. Mitigation goals represent broad statements that are achieved through the
implementation of more specific, action-oriented objectives. These actions include both “soft”
hazard mitigation policies (such as the enhancement of building standards for new USC facilities),
MITIGATION STRATEGY
7:2
and “hard” structural mitigation projects that seek to address specifically targeted hazard risks
(such as the retrofitting or hardening of an existing USC facility).
The second step involves the identification, consideration and analysis of available mitigation
measures to help USC achieve the identified mitigation goals. This is a long-term, continuous
process sustained through the development and maintenance of this DRU All-Hazards Mitigation
Plan.
Alternative mitigation measures will continue to be considered as future mitigation
opportunities become identified, as data and technology improve, as mitigation funding becomes
available, and as the DRU All-Hazards Mitigation Plan is maintained by USC over time.
The third and last step in designing the Mitigation Strategy is the selection and prioritization of
specific mitigation actions for USC (provided separately in Section 8: Mitigation Action Plan). The
Mitigation Action Plan, or MAP, represents an unambiguous and functional plan for action and is
considered to be the most essential outcome of the mitigation planning process. The MAP includes
a prioritized listing of proposed hazard mitigation actions (policies and projects) for USC to carry
out with accompanying information such as those departments or lead individuals assigned
responsibility for their implementation, potential funding sources and an estimated target date for
completion. The MAP provides those departments or individuals responsible for implementing
mitigation actions with a clear roadmap that also serves as an important tool for monitoring
success or progress over time. The cohesive collection of actions listed in the MAP can also serve
as an easily understood menu of mitigation policies and projects for those University decision
makers who want to quickly review the recommendations and proposed actions of the USC Disaster
Resistant University Plan.
Each senior and regional campus had a planning team that worked to assist in the mitigation
strategy. This allowed each campus to consider their current emergency plans and campus
assessments to align directly with the mitigation action plan proposed for their campus. The four
year campuses, USC Aiken and USC Upstate both already had comprehensive plans in place and
were able to use the Mitigation Action Plan to enhance their efforts.
In preparing the Mitigation Action Plan, the DRU Planning Team considered USC’s overall hazard
risk and capability to mitigate the effects of hazards as recorded in Section 4: Hazard Identification
and Analysis and Section 5: Vulnerability Assessment, in addition to meeting the adopted
mitigation goals and unique needs of the university. To assist in this process, USC applied the
FEMA-recommended evaluation criteria to each proposed mitigation action.
MITIGATION ACTION PRIORITIZATION
For the USC Disaster Resistant University Plan, the Planning Team was tasked with establishing a
priority for each action. Prioritization of the proposed mitigation actions was based on the following
six (6) factors:




Effect on overall risk to life and University property
Ease of implementation
Campus and community support
A general economic cost/benefit review[1]
[1]
Only a general economic cost/benefit review was considered by the Planning Team through the process of selecting and
prioritizing mitigation actions. Mitigation actions with “high” priority were determined to be the most cost effective and
most compatible with the participating jurisdictions’ unique needs. A more detailed cost/benefit analysis will be applied to
particular projects prior to the application for or obligation of funding, as appropriate.
University of South Carolina
Disaster Resistant University Plan
MITIGATION STRATEGY
7:3
 Funding availability
 Continued compliance with the NFIP (if applicable)
Using these criteria, actions were classified as high, moderate, or low priority by the all of the
MITIGATION GOALS
campuses.
MITIGATION GOAL
ITIGATION GOA
The goals of USC’s Disaster Resistant University Plan were crafted early in the planning process
and continuously refined through facilitated
44 CFR Requirement
discussions and brainstorming sessions with the
Planning Team (further discussed in Section 2: 44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(i): The mitigation
Planning Process).
Each of the following goal strategy shall include a description of
statements represent a broad target for USC to mitigation goals to reduce or avoid long-term
achieve through the implementation of its Disaster vulnerabilities to the identified hazards.
Resistant University Plan.
GOAL 1
Protect the life, safety and security of the campus community by creating a safe and
secure environment that is disaster resilient allowing the University to fulfill its mission.
GOAL 2
Ensure that the university’s mission of teaching, research, creative activity, and service
is maintained in the event of a natural or human-caused disaster.
GOAL 3
Increase the protection of existing facilities and infrastructure from hazard threats
through retrofit projects by focusing on protecting university assets and critical
infrastructure including utilities infrastructure, communication systems, information
technology systems and research facilities utilizing funding mechanisms that are
available.
GOAL 4
Prioritize mitigation strategies to reduce potential losses and identified hazard
vulnerabilities and pursue funding sources to establish alternatives for emergency
funding.
GOAL 5
Enhance campus education programs to raise awareness of hazards, and educate and
train the campus community members regarding steps to take to protect themselves and
techniques to minimize vulnerability to those hazards.
GOAL 6
To share knowledge gained from this project with other state or regional colleges and
universities.
University of South Carolina
Disaster Resistant University Plan
MITIGATION STRATEGY
7:4
IDENTIFICATION OF MITIGATION TECHNIQUES
In formulating USC’s Mitigation Strategy, a wide
range of activities were considered in order to help
achieve the established mitigation goals in
addition to addressing any specific and targeted
hazard concerns. These activities were discussed
at length during Planning Team meetings as well
as through site visits conducted by the Atkins
project team. In general, all activities considered
by the Planning Team can be classified under one
of the following six (6) broad categories of
mitigation techniques.
44 CFR Requirement
44 CFR Part 201.6(c)(3)(ii): The mitigation
strategy shall include a section that identifies
and analyzes a comprehensive range of
specific mitigation actions and projects being
considered to reduce the effect of each
hazard, with particular emphasis on new and
existing buildings and infrastructure.
1. Prevention
Preventative activities are intended to keep hazards from getting worse, and are typically
administered through regulatory programs or enforcement actions that influence the way land is
developed, buildings are constructed or how people respond. They are particularly effective in
reducing future vulnerability, especially in areas where development has not yet occurred or capital
improvements have not been substantial. Examples of preventative activities include:






Planning and design
Facilities construction
Open space preservation
Law enforcement (crime deterrence)
Floodplain / stormwater management
Capital improvements programming
2. Property Protection
Property protection measures involve the modification of existing buildings and structures to help
them better withstand the forces of a hazard, or removal of the structures from hazardous
locations. Examples include:






Acquisition and /or relocation
Building elevation
Retrofitting (e.g., windproofing, floodproofing, security enhancements, etc.)
Critical facilities protection
Safe rooms, shutters, impact-resistant glass
Insurance
3. Natural Resource Protection
Natural resource protection activities reduce the impact of natural hazards by preserving or
restoring natural areas and their protective functions. Such areas include floodplains, wetlands,
coastal areas, etc. Parks, recreation or conservation agencies and organizations often assist with
the implementation of these protective measures. Examples include:
 Floodplain protection
 Watershed management
University of South Carolina
Disaster Resistant University Plan
MITIGATION STRATEGY





7:5
Riparian buffers
Forest and vegetation management (e.g., fire resistant landscaping, fuel breaks, etc.)
Erosion and sediment control
Wetland preservation and restoration
Habitat preservation
4. Structural Projects
Structural mitigation projects are intended to lessen the impact of a hazard through construction or
structural hardening. They are usually designed by engineers and managed or maintained by
public works departments at local, state and federal agency levels. Examples include:





Reservoirs
Dams / levees / dikes / floodwalls
Diversions / detention / retention
Channel modification
Storm sewers
5. Emergency Services
Although not typically considered a “mitigation” technique, emergency service measures do
minimize the impact of a hazard event on people and property. These commonly are actions taken
immediately prior to, during, or in response to a hazard event. Examples include:






Warning and communication systems
Emergency power generation
Evacuation planning and management
Emergency response training and exercises
Sandbagging for flood protection
Installing temporary shutters for wind protection
6. Public Education and Awareness
Public education and awareness activities are used to advise people (faculty, students, parents,
visitors, etc.) about hazards, hazardous areas, and mitigation techniques they can use to protect
themselves and their property in the event of a hazard. Examples of measures to educate and
inform the public include:




Outreach projects
Speaker series / demonstration events
Hazard map information
Library materials
University of South Carolina
Disaster Resistant University Plan