Project Impact

The City of Seattle has taken numerous steps to improve its disaster preparedness and response capabilities over the last several years. Equally important has been Seattle's commitment to several "mitigation" projects designed to reduce the city's vulnerability to damage in future natural disasters.

In 1997 when Seattle learned the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Project Impact program was offering "seed money" to help communities mitigate, it joined with a local organization - Contingency Planning and Recovery Management (CPARM) - to apply for the money. The goals of Seattle's proposal were to retrofit homes and schools to make them better able to withstand a major earthquake and to prepare maps showing areas of landslide and seismic vulnerability.

In January of 1998, Seattle was officially designated as one of seven Project Impact pilot communities nationwide. Seattle Emergency Management provided overall project coordination and fund management of its $1 million Project Impact grant, which completed in 2001. City of Seattle has institutionalized Seattle Project Impact and we are committed to continuing these efforts well into the future, including managing additional grants and Regional partnerships.

How were the initial funds spent?

Over the life of the Project Impact grant, approximately half of the money was spent on the Home Retrofit program, the overall goal of which is to encourage homeowners to structurally retrofit their homes. Seattle Public Schools received most of the remaining money for non-structural Schools Retrofit. The last component of the grant supported better Hazard Mapping. (Click here to view Seattle Project Impact's Organization Chart.)

• Home Retrofit
  
  The Regional Home Retrofit program has several components, including: an expedited building permit process that establishes generic retrofit solutions for wood-frame homes vulnerable to earthquake damage; professional training for builders and contractors about the new standards and permit procedures; and homeowner classes, tool lending libraries and technical assistance for homeowners interested in doing their own retrofitting as well as consumer information on how to work with contractors on this retrofit process. When funds are available, we offer grants to low-income homeowners. While initially launched in Seattle, Regional Home Retrofit is now a program with 21 cities/counties participating. For more...



• Schools Retrofit
  
  Seattle Public Schools used Project Impact funds to remove overhead hazards, such as flush tanks and radiators that were part of plumbing and heating systems at older schools. Funds were also used to update the School Non-Structural Protection Guide used as a basis of training for school maintenance workers and volunteers to implement a self-sustaining program to identify and reduce these classroom hazards. A study was also performed on the benefits of installing automatic gas shut-off valves in several schools. The Guide has been used by schools across the country, and even businesses, looking to identify and secure non-structural hazards. For more...



• Hazard Mapping
  
  Earthquake and landslide are the two types of hazard maps have been developed. Maps have been produced that integrate existing landslide records with data about historical rainfall and geotechnical soils properties of Seattle's landslide-prone areas. In addition, a three-dimensional geologic map of the Puget Sound Area has been produced that incorporates complex structural relations beneath the surface with ground motion data. The mapping helps people understand more about the risks area residents face and aids in the development of sound land use policies. From these two hazard maps have come 10 different mapping projects. This effort has been important in connecting scientists and technical experts with planners and elected officials in order to make better decisions. People won't take mitigation action without truly understanding the hazards. For more...

As the other programs advanced, Seattle added this unfunded program:

• Disaster Resistant Businesses (DRB)
  
  Businesses are an important part of the community in which they reside. Businesses can help mitigate a disaster by doing what they can to prepare themselves for a disaster as well as getting involved more directly with Seattle Project Impact. The Disaster Resistant Businesses is a program that includes a number of resources for all sizes of business, mentoring, short functional workshops and much more. See the Businesses section for more information.