Scoring systems evaluate and prioritize mitigation options based on locally-relevant crieria. Mitigation options arise from a hazard risk assessment 

Benefits & Problems Addressed

Clarifying goals: Scoring criteria force a focus on factors critical for success. 

Defining areas of hazard: High profile protections include life, property, environmental resources and social justice. Cities also review administrative aspects of mitigation such as feasibility, legal requirements, costs, and maintenance. 

Defining options: Options are structural (land, detention basins) and non-structural (oning code changes)

Tradeoffs: Scoring sheets allow communities to review tradesoff

Tips & Techniques

Combining with other plans: Align mitigation options with other plans that can include comprehensive/general plans, natural resource plans and acquisitions, publci works and parks. 

Financial considerations: Scoring typically includes cost factors. Don't forget land acquisition, buyouts and long term service costs. 

Repetitive Loss: Emergency managers now take a sharper look at lessening  and refusing funding for repetitive loss (e.g. a property experiences flooding or wildfire  damage every year).

Benefit/Cost Review: This is the core of the assessment and asks whether costs are reasonable compared to probable benefits.

Examples & Resources

Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) Mitigation Best Practices Portfolio

UNC Beyond the Basics - Selecting Mitigation Actions 

Image: Pinellas County, FL US)