The document discusses factors to consider when developing a mitigation strategy and plan as required by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. It states that mitigation options must change the physical or social aspects of a community. Effective plans identify, evaluate, and prioritize cost-effective mitigation actions. The prioritization process should emphasize maximizing benefits according to a cost-benefit analysis. It also outlines the STAPLEE criteria for evaluating mitigation actions, which considers social, technical, administrative, political, legal, economic, and environmental factors.

1. By their very nature, mitigation options each seek to change some component of either the physical or social fabric of a community.

2. In a vacuum, without any local context, risks would be much easier to address because mitigation decisions would be purely technical, or engineering-based, in nature.

3. “ [mitigation] plans shall include an identification, evaluation, and prioritization of cost-effective, environmentally sound, and technically feasible mitigation actions and activities [considered] and an explanation of how each activity contributes to the overall mitigation strategy.” -DMA 2000

4. “ [The mitigation strategy section shall include] an action plan describing how the actions identified in section (c)(3)(ii) will be prioritized, implemented, and administered by the local jurisdiction. Prioritization shall include a special emphasis on the extent to which benefits are maximized according to a cost benefit review of the proposed projects and their associated costs.” -DMA 2000