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Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool (RVAT)
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Steps Hazards AnalysisExtended Discussion | Interact with Data | Print Version Why would I do this analysis?Essentially, a hazards analysis provides you with maps that indicate which areas in your community are most susceptible to hazards. To effectively narrow the focus of your vulnerability assessment, you must first identify the risk areas within your community. In order to obtain the most complete and comprehensive results, it is advisable that you consider all hazards facing your community. If there are data limitations, it is possible to focus your analysis on only one hazard of particular concern. Keep in mind, however, that the more risk data included in your analysis, the more opportunity there will be to focus your assessment activities in your highest-risk areas. Read the extended discussion for detailed information on identifying hazards in your community. Give me an example of something I might do in this analysis.Creating hazard maps will assist you with determining which areas are susceptible to individual hazards, multiple hazards, or possibly all hazards that have been identified. The appropriate decision makers can use maps that depict individual hazards or a combination of hazards.
What are my steps?In order to locate your highest-risk areas, it may be helpful to first develop a risk-prioritization scheme. It is possible to develop such a scheme using publicly available data, although local data — data collected from local agencies — will almost always be more detailed and more accurate. For each hazard being addressed, you should research the available data pertaining to the location of high-risk areas.
What data will I need?Since the Coastal Storms Program focuses only on hazards associated with coastal storms, there are four primary data layers that will be included in this hazards analysis.
Where can I obtain these data and information?Every community may have unique or unusual hazards that need to be considered. Historical records and/or information from local experts and citizens can be used to provide estimates of the zones or locations potentially at risk to such events. Even if no digital (geographic information systems or GIS) data are available for your area, it is still possible to construct risk maps showing estimates of hazard extents and magnitudes by using transparencies overlaid on paper maps. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center has constructed two Web pages that list potential sources for geospatial data and information. Use the following links to explore potential sources for data in and around your area: Hazard Information and Data Resources Coastal Geospatial Information: Examples of Internet Resources Who do I need to work with? What agencies can help me locate the necessary data and information?To access many of these governmental and organizational Web sites, view the Links page. A complete list of agencies and stakeholders is also available. Some potential sources of information regarding hazards in your community may include your local county and/or city emergency management office's comprehensive plan; response operations records of county and/or city emergency services organizations; flood insurance rate maps, hurricane storm surge maps; hazard computer modeling results and meteorological records from the NOAA National Weather Service, National Hurricane Center, or private weather services; geological information from the state geologist or local building inspectors; and information from agricultural extension agents, local and environmental organizations, and fisheries/wildlife agencies. Local (city/municipality or county level) — Planning Office/Tax Assessor, GIS Office, Emergency Management, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as the American Red Cross (ARC), and others Regional (state level) — Emergency Management, Environmental Protection Office, NGOs, and others National (federal level) — Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), U.S. Census Bureau, NGOs, and others Interact with the DataFollow this link to view and interact with data pertaining to the Hazards Analysis. |