The US is unique in its far-reaching financial assistance programs for disaster-impacted areas. Communities that request and receive presidential disaster declarations are eligible to receive financial assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for specific recovery activities. Pre-disaster planning and mitigation can result in the ability to recover, even after a catastrophic event. The inability to adequately mitigate against catastrophe can leave a community without revenue on which to base its recovery Sales and property taxes are directly affected by natural disasters, as are the basic industries on which a community's prosperity is based. Communities should invest in adequate threat assessment, emergency preparedness, and response capabilities in concert with their major industries. They should also undertake physical and financial mitigation measures to lessen the damage and thereby speed the recovery of the community after disaster.