Hazard risk assessments determine potential impacts to people, the economy, and built & natural environments. The risk assessment provides the foundation for identifying mitigation strategies.
Benefits & Problems Addressed:
Foundation for action: The risk assessment provides the foundation for the rest of the mitigation process to identify & prioritize risk reduction actions.
General preparedness: Assessing assets & priorities extends to routine activities in a community for land use and comprehensive planning,
Tips & Techniques
Four Step Process: (1) Describe hazards, (2) Identify Community Assets, (3) Analyze risks, (4) Summarize vulnerabilities
Hazard Types (Natural): Drought, Dust & Destabilized Soil, Earthquake, Extreme Heat, Flooding (inclusing surge and inundation), Hailstorms, Windstorms, Infectious Disease Outbreak, Lightning, Sinkholes, Severe Winter Storm, Tornadoes, Wildfire
Hazard Types (Technical & Man-made): Aircraft Accident/Incident, Dam Failure, Terrorism, Hazardous Material Releases, Energy/Fuel Shortage, Water Transmission Failure
Mapping: Include maps of (1) geographic range of each hazard , (2) critical assets & economic centers (3) future development, (4)
Factors affecting risk: Frequency,, impact severity, predictability & warning time, economic disruption, geographic extent, possible loss of life and property. other locally-reletive impacts. Administratively, factors include technical needs, staff training, cost, legal requirements.
Social vulnerability: In addition to physical and economic risks, include social vulnerabliity of community members & organizations that do not have resources to cope with and recover from disasters.
Examples & Resources
FEMA’s Local Mitigation Planning Handbook
Beyond the Basics
UNC - Community Based Vulnerability Assessment
Image: Association of Bay Area GOvernments (ABAG)