The New Hanover County Department of Emergency Managed prepared the County's first Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2004. On September 10, 2004, the North Carolina Division of Emergency Management (NCDEM) officially recommended the New Hanover County Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) approval.  The plan was reviewed by NCDEM and found to be compliant pursuant to Section 322 of the Disaster Mitigation Act 2000 (Public Law 106-390), which reinforces the importance of pre-disaster mitigation planning, and establishes a requirement that local governments adopt a mitigation plan in order to be eligible for hazard mitigation funding.

Overview

New Hanover County has an unparalleled history of Hurricane activity and regularly experiences flooding which cost residents, insurance companies, federal, state and local agencies hundreds of millions of dollars.  The County is also susceptible to numerous other natural hazards including wild fire, tornados and earthquakes.  In order to insure the safety of the Citizens of New Hanover County and to safeguard against property loss, New Hanover County, along with the City of Wilmington and the Town of Kure Beach, developed a Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan in 2004.

Some of the damage experienced as a result of past disasters can be linked to land use decisions that have not fully considered the possible impacts of natural hazards and the sustainability of development in coastal hazard areas.  New Hanover County has a rapidly growing population with a limited amount of developable land remaining.  Although current regulations protect property owners against some of these hazards, pressure to develop in many hazard prone areas continues to increase as the County’s population grows. 

The process for developing this plan included detailed data collection and analysis that was used to identify high-risk properties and help to define mitigation strategies.  Planning for the full range of hazards threatening life and property in New Hanover County has incorporated these mitigation opportunities and initiatives to make the area more resistant to repetitive damages like those resulting from Hurricanes Fran, Bertha, Bonnie, Dennis, Floyd, and Isabel.  

Many of the policies and implementation strategies contained in the Plan are included in the Storm and Natural Hazard Mitigation, Evacuation and Recovery sections of the County’s Comprehensive Plan and the CAMA Land Use Plan Update.  The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners and the State of North Carolina approved the CAMA Land Use Plan in December of 1999.  Inclusion in these planning documents highlights mitigation planning as an important part of the overall function of County government.

Policy recommendations developed through the Hazard Mitigation Planning process include the identification of properties for possible acquisition and relocation programs geared towards reducing repetitive loss claims.  Also included are projects to implement the County's Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) to sustain government operations in time of disaster. 

Mitigation Planning  and Floodplain Management Goals

• Reduce the number of repetitive losses from flooding and other natural hazards throughout New Hanover County.
• Facilitate development in New Hanover County to reduce or eliminate the potential impacts of disasters. 
• Enhance public awareness and understanding of disaster preparedness.
• Enhance post disaster response and recovery activities through the implementation of the County's Continuity of Operations Plan.

Annual Review

The New Hanover County Department of Emergency Management has responsibility for updating all of the Hazard Mitigation sections of the plan not related to flood plain management.

The New Hanover County Planning Department has overall responsibility for coordinating an annual review of the Floodplain Management section of the Multi-Jurisdictional plan.  The review considers the effectiveness of each policy, the impact that acquisition and elevation have had on repetitive loss properties and an evaluation of the implementation of proposed ordinance additions and amendments.  The review starts on the annual anniversary of the adoption of this plan.

After submission to the County Manager, the 2006 Progress Report was submitted to the New Hanover County governing body and management staff for their approval. Copies of the progress report are available to the public.  The public may obtain copies of the report, as well as copies of the Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan, from the New Hanover County Department of Emergency Management or the Department of Planning.