V. Capabilities Assessment

The capability assessment describes the legal authority vested in local governments to pursue measures to mitigate the impacts of natural hazards. This capability assessment focused on the evaluation of Jefferson County’s existing programs and policies to determine what vehicles are already in place to support mitigation activities. These policies and programs were identified based on a review of existing plans and ordinances for the county and each of the municipalities except Harpers Ferry, as no data was available to analyze. Programs or regulations that related to mitigation or supported mitigation activities were selected and rated high, medium, or low based on their effectiveness for mitigation. The following tables describe the identified programs, effectiveness, and the rationale for effectiveness.

A. Jefferson County

B. Bolivar

C. Charles Town

D. Shepherdstown

E. Ranson

F. Results

The results of the capability assessment help to provide the framework for developing recommendation for specific mitigation actions. It also helps to identify shortfalls in the local government capabilities as well as draw attention to existing successes. The capability assessment was analyzed then used to rank the mitigation strategies according to the capability of the county or the municipalities to implement the actions. The feasibility of mitigation strategies is described in greater detail in the Implementation section of this plan.