Question 1

The Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution grants all state governments this authority to enact reasonable legislation to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

Accepted Answer

The Tenth Amendment grants states police power, which is the authority to enact laws and regulations to protect the health, safety, and general welfare of the public.

Question 2

States like _____________ do not have to place as much emphasis on coastal erosion due to their geography.

Accepted Answer

Illinois is a landlocked state and therefore does not have a coastline or need to worry about coastal erosion. Maryland, Louisiana, and Florida all have extensive coastlines and are prone to coastal erosion.

Question 3

The two levels of state plans under the Disaster Mitigation Act (DMA) of 2000 are
A) stand-alone and supported
B) funded and non-funded
C) standard and non-standard
D) standard and enhanced

Accepted Answer

D

Question 4

Which of the following state policies could be referred to as "strategic retreat?

Accepted Answer

Strategic retreat refers to policies that aim to withdraw development from areas that are vulnerable to natural hazards like sea-level rise, erosion, or flooding. Enacting a setback regulation that restricts development a specified distance from the sandy beach can be a policy example of strategic retreat. This helps to prevent future losses from natural hazards by keeping development away from dangerous areas.

Question 5

Many statewide codes are based on nationally recognized model codes, including:
A) the International Building Code (IBC)
B) the International Residential Code (IRC)
C) the International Emergency Code (IEC)
D) a and b
E) all of the above

Accepted Answer

The answer of Many statewide codes are based on nationally...

Question 6

The massive amount of property damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992 precipitated a major insurance crisis in South Florida, when more than _________ in insurance claims was paid.

Accepted Answer

Hurricane Andrew caused over $15 billion in property damage, resulting in a major insurance crisis in South Florida as more than $15 billion in insurance claims were paid out.

Question 7

Because many private insurers are reluctant to provide coverage in high-risk areas, some states have created ______ _______, which offer subsized coverage to high-risk properties and impose additional fees on all insurance contracts in the state to cover the losses of a major disaster.

Accepted Answer

The term "insurance pools" refers to a government-created program that pools together high-risk policies for properties that private insurers are reluctant to cover. The program provides subsidized coverage to these high-risk properties and imposes additional fees on all insurance contracts in the state to cover the losses of a major disaster. This type of program is also referred to as a "joint underwriting association" or a "residual market."

Question 8

States have very similar processes in their approach to hazards management and regulation of the built environment in hazard areas.

Accepted Answer

While states may have some similarities in their approaches to hazards management and regulation of the built environment, there can also be significant differences based on factors such as geography, climate, and local needs and priorities. Additionally, there can be variation in the legal and regulatory frameworks governing these issues from state to state.

Question 9

Each of the 50 states, territories, and the District of Columbia maintain an office of emergency management.

Accepted Answer

Each state, territory, and the District of Columbia have an office of emergency management responsible for coordinating and managing emergency response and recovery efforts in their respective jurisdictions.

Question 10

South Florida has long had a reputation of having a strong coastal building code.

Accepted Answer

South Florida has a well-established and enforced building code, especially when it comes to coastal construction due to the threat of hurricanes and storm surge.

Question 11

Wetlands are well known for their water-quality protection function, and have been called nature's "liver" because of their ability to filter impurities from surface water as it makes its way through the hydrologic system.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Wetlands are well known for their water-quality...

Question 12

An Area of Environmental Concern (AEC) typically would not include the band of narrow barrier islands that form a State's coastal border.

Accepted Answer

The statement is false. Barrier islands are often included in AECs as they are sensitive and critical habitats for many species and are susceptible to erosion and damage from pollution and development.

Question 13

Because their impacts can be spread over a wide area, tornados are often more difficult to insurance than hurricanes. True of False ?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Because their impacts can be spread over...

Question 14

State insurance laws require that premiums not be excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory.

Accepted Answer

This is a requirement under state insurance laws known as the "fairness doctrine." Insurers must price policies at a level that reflects the risks involved, but cannot discriminate unfairly against any particular group or individual.

Question 15

While states often play a vital role in preparing for and mitigating against natural hazards, all actions directed toward terrorism and other human-made hazards should be left to the federal government.

Accepted Answer

While the federal government has a role in addressing terrorism and other human-made hazards, state and local governments also have important responsibilities in preparing for and responding to these types of emergencies.

Question 16

One of the primary federal agencies that the states deal with to secure hazard mitigation funding is the __________________Agency.

Accepted Answer

The answer of One of the primary federal agencies that...

Question 17

The term "_____________" is frequently used to refer to a set of codebooks that are coordinated with each other to describe construction techniques and requirements.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The term "_____________" is frequently used to...

Question 18

Although the specifics vary among the coastal states, in general, ___________ work by prohibiting or limiting the erection of structures within a specified distance from the ocean or other environmental characteristics.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Although the specifics vary among the coastal...

Question 19

___________________ is a term used to describe a policy to elevate all buildings' lowest floor above predicted flood elevations, generally by additional heights of 1-3 feet above the minimum height required by the National Flood Insurance Program.

Accepted Answer

The answer of ___________________ is a term used to describe...

Question 20

Some states require off-site preservation of another wetland when a development activity impairs or destroys a wetland in one location. This is commonly called ______ _______.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Some states require off-site preservation of another...

Quiz 7: Mitigating Hazards at the State Level