Kevin Mickey, Director of Professional Education and Outreach for the Polis Center at IUPUI, and 2016 Chair, Multihazard Mitigation Council (MMC), National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS), has been invited by Andre Carson, U.S. Representative for Indiana’s 7th congressional district, to testify on behalf of NIBS during the May 12 congressional Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee hearing on Controlling the Rising Cost of Federal Responses to Disaster in Washington, D.C.
The hearing is being held to explore the rising costs of federal responses to disasters and potential solutions for lowering such costs. Specifically, the hearing will examine data related to disaster costs, the trends observed over time, and future projections under current federal disaster assistance policies, programs, and requirements. In addition, the hearing will continue exploring potential solutions for lowering the overall costs of disasters and avoiding devastating losses. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. EST. The link to the live webcast may be found at https://transportation.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=400195.
The Polis Center is one of the nation’s leading university-based units working with communities to enhance their preparedness for natural disasters. Mickey has trained emergency management professionals in more than forty states, using the federally recommended HAZUS-MH software and other geospatial tools and methods to estimate damage and economic impact. He also is a regular instructor at the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) National Emergency Training Center in Emmitsburg, Maryland. The Polis Center, as well, has worked in ten states, including Indiana, to help agencies develop better integration of spatial information and to use data to promote best emergency management practices.
Research shows an overall increase in disaster declarations since the 1950s, with associated costs totaling over one trillion dollars in North America. In 2005, FEMA commissioned a study by NIBS’ Multihazard Mitigation Council, “Natural Hazard Mitigation Saves: An Independent Study to Assess the Future Savings from Mitigation Activities.” The goal of the study, based on the work of more than 50 national experts, was to “assess the future savings from hazard mitigation activities.” According to the study, every $1 dollar spent on hazard mitigation (actions to reduce disaster losses) provides the nation with about $4 in future benefits. Recent research suggests that this ratio can be even higher.
NIBS published a follow-up report in late fall 2015 through the combined efforts of the Multihazard Mitigation Council and the Council on Finance, Insurance and Real Estate (CFIRE) entitled “Developing Pre-Disaster Resilience Based on Public and Private Incentivization.” In January 2016, NIBS conducted a symposium in Washington, D.C. that brought together leaders in the building construction, insurance, mitigation and related industries to discuss the report findings and strategize effective ways to incentivize resiliency within their respective industries. Mickey’s testimony will reference this recent work by NIBS. The report is available at https://c.ymcdn.com/sites/www.nibs.org/resource/resmgr/MMC/MMC_ResilienceIncentivesWP.pdf.
Rep. Carson said, “As the Ranking Member of the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, I am pleased to welcome such a distinguished Hoosier to testify. Kevin Mickey will not only showcase IUPUI and their important work at the Polis Center, but also his national leadership as Chair of the Multihazard Mitigation Council. Congress often hears from national advocates and experts, but it’s important that we hear from local and regional leaders about their work and contributions, which are critical to national dialogues.”
The Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management Subcommittee oversees various federal real estate programs. Its jurisdiction of federal management of emergencies and natural disasters includes FEMA activities relating to disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, as well as programs relating to first responders.
The Multihazard Mitigation Council is one of 18 Councils of the National Institute of Building Sciences. It aims to reduce the total losses associated with natural and other hazards by fostering and promoting implementation of consistent and improved multihazard risk mitigation strategies, guidelines, practices, and related efforts. The Council is governed by an elected board of directors comprised of nationally-recognized leaders from both private and nonprofit sectors.