Identifying benefits and costs separately and correctly helps to realize those groups in society that gain from mitigation and those that might lose. Although the theoretical basis of BCA rests on maximizing economic efficiency, most people do not consider the distribution of those gains irrelevant, especially if policy makers wish to garner support for hazard mitigation activities. The more we can break benefits and costs down into components across individuals, geographical space and over time, the more easily we can see the distribution of impacts, and possibly the need for compensation of those who’s welfare decreases due to mitigation.