Losses from natural disasters (especially floods) continues to rise each year in the United States. It is not uncommon to have multiple billion-dollar disasters in a calendar year and looking ahead, the prognosis is for more of the same as the climate changes and storms become more intense. But what can be done? The answer is hazard mitigation - to increase a community's resiliency to natural hazards, to reduce future losses, to improve public safety, and to protect citizens' well-being.To get there, communities need to understand the role that mitigation can play, apply for and complete hazard mitigation projects, and look beyond the short-term gains of today toward a sustainable and resilient future of tomorrow.As a self-professed weather and disaster geek, I am enthralled by the hazard side. The social scientist in me is interested in human behavior, especially the reasons why people do the things they do. Another goal of mine is to serve the suffering and less fortunate in all aspects of life, both professional and personal. Where these three passions interact is my "sweet spot" of hazard mitigation.Specialties: FEMA mitigation project applicationsBenefit-cost analysisFloodplain managementGrant administration
Listed skills include Mitigation, Floodplain Management, Environmental Awareness, Policy, and 35 others.