Mitigation is defined by FEMA as "...sustained action that reduces or eliminates long- term risk to people and property from natural hazards and their effects." It describes the ongoing effort at the Federal, State, Tribal, local, and individual levels to lessen the impact of disasters upon communities, infrastructure, and the economy.

Disasters can happen at anytime and anyplace; their human and financial consequences are hard to predict, and the number of disasters each year continues to increase. Since disaster mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters it is imperative that we all understand community/regional/and state-wide risks and invest in long-term community well-being.

Mitigation includes not only minimizing or avoiding  development in high hazard areas within the community,  but also working to ensure  existing development in hazard-prone areas is safer.

 2018 STATE OF MONTANA MULTI-HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN