Planning for Disasters, Local

Hazard Analysis

The hazard analysis process assists planners in determining not only what types of events are likely to occur within a community, but also how the community is likely to be impacted by the occurrence of a hazard-related event. Hazard analyses are also useful in determining how vulnerable the community is to a specific hazard, and assists in the prediction of damages that could occur in the event that the hazard impacts the community. Disaster response priorities take into consideration not only life safety measures and actions, but also essential facility protection and infrastructure stabilization.

Hazard analyses are completed by developing profiles for the various types of hazards that may occur within a community, and then quantifying and prioritizing the associated risks of the hazard. The types and frequency of hazards that may impact a community can be determined by accessing historical data regarding events that have impacted the community in the past.

When conducting a hazard analysis, planners can go to a variety of resources such as the National Weather Services (NWS), local or state historical societies, or local colleges and universities to obtain historical information on hazards that have previously impacted the community. It is important to not only look to the past, but also the future when conducting a community's hazard analysis. A number of factors such as land development or mitigation measures may enhance the risks associated with a specific hazard, or create new hazards. To that end, the process of reviewing, assessing, and revising existing hazard analysis is an essential function in disaster planning.

[Page 479]When developing a hazard profile, planners should take into consideration the magnitude, duration, seasonal pattern, and the speed of the hazard's onset. Planners should also develop a community profile consisting of details related to the local geography, types of property and community infrastructure, area demographics, and the response composition within the community. Once the hazard and community profiles are completed, planners can use the information not only identify the community's vulnerability to a hazard, but also to quantify and rank community risks and subsequently prioritize planning goals and objectives.

Emergency Operations Plan Development

The outcome of the community's hazard analysis provides information that enables planners to base emergency operations plans on the probability of a hazard within the community. A community's emergency operations plan describes the actions that will be taken within a community to preserve life, property, and the environment in the event of an emergency or disaster. Emergency operations plans are intended to be comprehensive by encompassing all areas of a community's preparedness, response, and recovery functions from a wide range of human-made, natural, or technological incidents, or all-hazards.

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