How do you evaluate the effectiveness and impact of your hazard mitigation actions?

1 Define your goals and indicators

Before you can evaluate your hazard mitigation actions, you need to define what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. Your goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Your indicators should be clear, quantifiable, and aligned with your goals. For example, if your goal is to reduce flood damage in a certain area, your indicators could be the number of properties affected, the cost of repairs, or the duration of recovery.

2 Collect and analyze data

Once you have your goals and indicators, you need to collect and analyze data to assess your progress and performance. You can use different sources and methods of data collection, such as surveys, interviews, observations, records, or models. You should also consider the quality, reliability, and validity of your data, and use appropriate statistical or qualitative techniques to analyze it. For example, you can use cost-benefit analysis, risk assessment, or impact evaluation to compare your hazard mitigation actions with alternative scenarios or baselines.

3 Report and communicate results

After you have collected and analyzed your data, you need to report and communicate your results to your stakeholders and audiences. You should use clear, concise, and consistent language and formats, and tailor your messages to the needs and interests of different groups. You should also highlight the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of your hazard mitigation actions, and provide recommendations for improvement or replication. For example, you can use reports, presentations, infographics, or stories to share your findings and lessons learned.

5 Use available tools and resources

Evaluating your hazard mitigation actions can be a complex and challenging task, however, there are many tools and resources available to assist in the planning, conducting, and reporting of your evaluation. For instance, FEMA's Hazard Mitigation Planning and Evaluation Toolkit is a comprehensive guide that provides step-by-step instructions, templates, and examples for developing and evaluating hazard mitigation plans and actions. Additionally, the Mitigation Benefits Toolbox is a web-based tool that allows users to estimate and compare the benefits and costs of different hazard mitigation actions using various methods and data sources. Furthermore, the National Hazard Mitigation Association is a professional association that promotes the advancement of hazard mitigation through education, advocacy, and collaboration. It offers training, certification, networking opportunities, as well as publications for its members and the public.

6 Evaluate your evaluation

Finally, as part of your evaluation process, you should also evaluate your own evaluation. You should reflect on the strengths and limitations of your evaluation design, methods, data, and results, and identify areas for improvement or further research. You should also consider the ethical, social, and environmental implications of your evaluation, and how it affects the rights, interests, and values of different stakeholders. For example, you can use checklists, peer reviews, or feedback surveys to assess the quality, relevance, and usefulness of your evaluation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?