Mitigation activities entail identifying risks and hazards to either substantially reduce or eliminate the impact of an incident usually through structural measures. Mitigation activities often have a long-term or sustained effect and may have an impact on insurance premiums. In many cases, mitigation activities occur in the recovery stage of a major disaster. Some examples of mitigation include:
- Building codes that address risks such as fires, high winds, or earthquakes
- Zoning rules that restrict construction in floodplains
- Rebuilding damaged structures with more resilient materials
- Flood mapping to identify low lying areas and relocating homes and structures located in floodplains and flood prone areas
- Dams and levees that help prevent flooding