Hazard mitigation is any action that reduces or eliminates long-term rish to people and property from disasters and their impacts.

The goals of the hazard mitigation plan are to:

• Reduce or eliminate threats to life and property,
• Ensure that a comprehensive review of all possible activities and mitigation measures is conducted so that the most appropriate solutions will be implemented to address the hazard,
• Ensure that the recommended activities meet the goals and objectives of the community, are in coordination with land use and comprehensive planning, do not create conflicts with other activities, and are coordinated so that the cost of implementing individual activities are reduced,
• Solve repetitive problems,
• Build public and political support for activities and projects that prevent new problems and reduce losses.
• Build a constituency that sees the plan's recommendations implemented.

A hazard mitigation plan can help the community understand how natural hazards impact the immediate environment and aid with development siting and design to limit damages from natural hazards.

Having a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan makes towns eligible for FEMa grants such as the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Flood Mitigation Assistance, and the Pre Disaster Mitigation Competitive Grant.