| This research seeks to understand the determinants of the hazard mitigation policies adopted in Local Comprehensive Plans, and its impact on the level of community vulnerability. The barrier island communities of three adjacent Florida counties struck by Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004 serve as the case study area. The development, vulnerability and hazard mitigation policies are investigated using a GIS tax-parcel database, a content-analysis of key planning policy, key-person interviews and other secondary sources. Community vulnerability is measured by the number and assessed taxable value of privately owned constructed assets, public assets and FEMA storm damage and recovery costs.; The research reveals that the stage of community development is one of the most important factors for comparative studies of mitigation and resiliency success in coastal regions. The mitigation approach, the combination of land-use, engineered hardening or emergency management mitigation practices adopted at key policy junctures is influenced by temporal factors, such as the amount of undeveloped building rights, development pressure resulting from real estate cycles, and the power of local constituency groups. As these conditions vary locally, community mitigation approaches differ.; The outcomes of local decisions create a varied pattern of vulnerability characteristics and mitigation approaches fractured by political, geomorphic, ecological and socio-economic boundaries. Variations in a communities' development timeline produce variable levels and types of vulnerability or resiliency at different points in time. Thus, the ability of Local Comprehensive Plan policies to increase resiliency is less dependant on adopting a particular policy approach, or the most precautionary approach, but the suitability of the approach to existing conditions, the opportunities for present and future intervention, and the time horizon for achieving the desired resiliency levels. |
