Mitigation
Mitigation
Embedded Files
Contact:
Justin Markiewicz
307-777-4914
justin.markiewicz@wyo.gov
Mitigation: Our Investment in a Safer Wyoming
What is the single most effective tool we have against disaster? It's not the immediate response, it is mitigation: the deliberate, proactive effort we make today to reduce the damage and suffering of tomorrow.
As the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS), our mission in mitigation is to move Wyoming from a reactive posture—one that simply cleans up after a disaster—to a proactive strategy that builds collective resilience across the state.
Mitigation is an investment in the long-term safety and financial stability of Wyoming's communities, residents, and businesses. It is built upon three critical areas of action:
Know the Risks: Analyzing and understanding the specific hazards that threaten Wyoming, from severe winter storms and wildfires to flooding and drought.
Build Stronger: Implementing physical and policy changes at the state and local levels to make our infrastructure, homes, and critical facilities more resilient.
Plan and Insure Smarter: Utilizing financial tools, like hazard insurance and state/federal grants, to manage the risk that cannot be eliminated.
The Return on Investment
The Return on Investment
Every disaster carries a heavy cost in human suffering and economic turmoil. The proactive actions WOHS and our local partners take directly determine that cost.
When we invest in mitigation across Wyoming, we are securing more than structures; we are preserving our communities, economies, and way of life.
Mitigation Benefits
Safeguarding Residents: Mitigation directly supports the safety of Wyoming residents, reducing injuries and fatalities through proactive measures like repairing dams and preparing our first responders.
Saving Taxpayer Dollars: Studies show that every $1 invested in hazard mitigation saves the nation an average of $6 in future disaster recovery and relief spending. This preserves state and federal resources.
Strengthening Local Economies: By reducing crippling financial losses and infrastructure damage, mitigation ensures that Wyoming's communities and businesses can rebound from an event faster and with less disruption.
A Resilience Milestone:
A Resilience Milestone:
100% Mitigation Plan Approval
100% Mitigation Plan Approval
The State of Wyoming has reached a significant milestone in disaster preparedness: 100% of our local communities, counties, and tribal governments now have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). This achievement represents years of collaborative hard work and dedication across the state.
Historically, only about 70 percent of Wyoming communities had an approved plan. This universal participation means Wyoming is now significantly more prepared to respond to and recover from all-hazards.
What this Means for
What this Means for
Wyoming Communities
Wyoming Communities
The statewide planning process, initiated by the Wyoming Office of Homeland Security (WOHS) in 2014, brought together local communities, counties, tribes, and emergency response regions. This process is critical because it:
Analyzes Risk: Communities review local natural hazards and assess their capacity to respond to and recover from natural events.
Unlocks Funding: In compliance with federal law, having a current, approved plan is the key eligibility requirement for communities and jurisdictions to apply for federal grant funding for disaster recovery and mitigation projects.
Director's Perspective
Director's Perspective
Lynn Budd
Lynn Budd
“Wyoming communities are the places where we work and raise our families – the place we call home. The time dedicated by these communities to complete these plans ensures our neighborhoods become more resilient and prepared to deal with natural and manmade disasters.”
Mitigation Projects in Action
Mitigation Projects in Action
The success of the planning process is already translating into stronger, more resilient infrastructure across Wyoming. These federal grants—which typically cover up to 75% of the project cost (with the community covering the remaining 25%)—fund vital improvements.
Recent mitigation projects protecting our communities and critical infrastructure include:
Riverbank stabilization projects to prevent erosion and flooding.
Detention/retention pond projects for effective stormwater management.
Property acquisitions to permanently remove structures from high-risk floodplains.
Electrical grid hardening to protect critical power infrastructure from severe weather events.
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