Modification of the Priority Risk Index: Adapting to Emergency Management Accreditation Program standards for institutes of higher learning hazard mitigation plans

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-171
Author(s):  
Josep B. Harris, PhD ◽  
Geoffrey Bartlett, BS ◽  
T. Andrew Joyner, PhD ◽  
Matthew Hart, BS ◽  
William Tollefson, MS
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Hazard Mitigation ◽  
Weighting Factor ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Consequence Analysis ◽  
Accreditation Program ◽  
Vulnerability Score

The Priority Risk Index is increasingly used as a methodology for quantifying jurisdictional risk for hazard mitigation planning purposes, and it can evolve to meet specific community needs. The index incorporates probability, impact, spatial extent, warning time, and duration when assessing each hazard, but it does not explicitly integrate a vulnerability and consequence analysis into its final scoring. To address this gap, a new index was developed—the Enhanced Priority Risk Index (EPRI). The new index adds a sixth category, vulnerability, calculated from a vulnerability and consequence analysis of the impacts on seven sectors identified in Standard 4.1.2 of the Emergency Management Accreditation Program (EMAP). To obtain a vulnerability score, impacts are ranked by sector from low (1) to very high (4), then a weighting factor is applied to each sector. The vulnerability score is added to the EPRI and provides risk levels based on the number of exploitable weaknesses and countermeasures identified within a specific jurisdiction. The vulnerability score and resulting EPRI are scalable and can be applied across jurisdictions, providing a transferable methodology that improves the hazard identification and risk assessment process and provides an approach for meeting EMAP accreditation standards. 

scholarly journals A National Evaluation of State and Territory Roles in Hazard Mitigation: Building Local Capacity to Implement FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Grants

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (23) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Gavin Smith ◽  
Olivia Vila
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
National Survey ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Technical Assistance ◽  
Hazard Mitigation ◽  
Grant Applications ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Resilient Infrastructure ◽  
Survey Responses

This article describes the findings of a national survey of State Hazard Mitigation Officers (SHMOs) in U.S. states and territories in order to gain a greater understanding of the roles that they play in assisting local governments to build the capacity required to successfully develop and implement Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-funded Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grants, an important but understudied aspect of hazard mitigation governance. The research questions focus on: (1) How states and territories enable local governments to develop and implement HMA grants and (2) SHMOs’ opinions regarding their perceived capacity and effectiveness in assisting local governments to develop and implement HMA grants. Results show that while states and territories are relatively well-equipped to perform general administrative duties required by FEMA, SHMOs expressed wide variation in their capacity to assist local governments to develop and implement HMA grants. This was particularly evident with regard to the delivery of specific technical assistance measures required to develop HMA grants. Survey responses also highlight modest levels of participation in FEMA-designed efforts to delegate responsibility to states and territories and low levels of participation in programs that offer pre-application funding to local governments to help them develop HMA grant applications. These findings should concern FEMA as the agency embarks on the implementation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program, an ambitious pre-disaster hazard mitigation grant initiative.

scholarly journals Post-Disaster Assessment of the Performance of Hazard Mitigation Projects: The California SMART Approach

2010 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 172-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Boswell ◽  
◽  
William J. Siembieda ◽  
Kenneth C. Topping ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Hazard Mitigation ◽  
Cost Benefit ◽  
Project Performance ◽  
Efficient Manner ◽  
Public Investments ◽  
Review Team ◽  
Disaster Assessment ◽  
Mitigation Projects

California’s SMART (State Mitigation Assessment Review Team) program for assessing natural hazard mitigation project performance after a disaster is a method of integrating multiple state agencies’ expertise into a working tool for assessing the value of public investments in risk reduction. The intent of the SMART program is to provide the California Emergency Management Agency with information about the performance of publicly financed mitigation projects so that it can better allocate future funding and improve the overall safety of California. A key aspect of the program is the mobilization of California State University faculty and staff from across the state after a disaster in order to conduct rapid performance assessments while field data is available. In order to test the SMART system, a pilot study was conducted using the Yountville Flood Barrier Wall Project performance during a 2005 flood on the Napa River. The case validated the idea that for a flood project, a rapid evaluation could be conducted using field observations that establish the height and extent of flooding and include the project’s original cost-benefit analysis. The data produced from this type of evaluation program will be valuable to state emergency management agencies trying to allocate program grants in the most efficient manner and to government agencies who want to make sure that federal dollars are being spent wisely.

scholarly journals Implementasi Metode Hazard Identification Risk Assessment And Risk Control Guna Peningkatan Keselamatan dan Kesehatan Karyawan di PT ABC

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfina Fitri Damayanti ◽  
Nina Aini Mahbubah
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Low Voltage ◽  
Risk Control ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Extreme Risk

Zero accident was considered as the primary occupational health and safety value in manufacturing and service enterprises.  PT. ABC provided  electrical and instrument services, including a low-voltage installation, high-voltage installation and an instrument installation. This company is known to excellent electricity and instrument service providers across the country . Moreover, men’s power is used as a primary source to maintain  these kind  of services. Installation projects depend not only on the high working speed, but also on  high working  accuracy within  certain timeframes . As a result, work  accidents  have occurred with a classification varying from minor to fatal accidents.  The purpose of this research is to identify potential hazards to assess risk levels and  obtain recommendations for  preventing accident. The HIRARC method is employed as a research approach. This research is initiated through Hazard Identification, Risk Assessment and Risk Control.  This research identified that two hazards were classified as  extreme risk, three hazards as high- risk, eight hazards as moderate risk , and two hazards have been identified as low risk . Furthermore, a number of action lists have been suggested in order to minimize accident rates and finally the working conditions are designed to maintain zero accidents.

scholarly journals The Impact of the Storm Prediction Center's Convective Outlooks and Watches on Emergency Management Operational Planning

2021 ◽  
pp. 36-46
Author(s):  
Heather A. Cross ◽  
Dennis Cavanaugh ◽  
Christopher C. Buonanno ◽  
Amy Hyman
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Management ◽  
Severe Weather ◽  
Emergency Operations ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Severe Thunderstorms ◽  
Emergency Managers ◽  
Weather Events ◽  
Storm Prediction ◽  
Near Term ◽  
The Impact

For many emergency managers (EMs) and National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters, Convective Outlooks issued by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) influence the preparation for near-term severe weather events. However, research into how and when EMs utilize that information, and how it influences their emergency operations plan, is limited. Therefore, to better understand how SPC Convective Outlooks are used for severe weather planning, a survey was conducted of NWS core partners in the emergency management sector. The results show EMs prefer to wait until an Enhanced Risk for severe thunderstorms is issued to prepare for severe weather. In addition, the Day 2 Convective Outlook serves as the threshold for higher, value-based decision making. The survey was also used to analyze how the issuance of different risk levels in SPC Convective Outlooks impact emergency management preparedness compared to preparations conducted when a Convective Watch is issued.

Distribution and Contamination Acessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Harbin Section of Songhua River, China

2014 ◽  
Vol 955-959 ◽  
pp. 2280-2284
Author(s):  
Kai Yue Gong ◽  
Pei Shi Qi ◽  
Yun Zhi Liu
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Songhua River ◽  
Ecological Risk Index ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Accumulation Index

In this study, the distribution and enrichment characters of heavy metals were explored. And the potential ecological risk levels of heavy metals were evaluated by geo-accumulation index method and potential ecological risk index method. The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments of Harbin section of Songhua River are: Zn>Pb>Cr>Cu>Ni>Cd. The enrichment degree of Zn is the highest, while Cd is the lowest. The potential ecological risk indexes of heavy metals in the sediments of section of Songhua River in Harbin are: Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn>Ni>Cr. The main heavy metals pollution is Cd, which has low content but considerable potential ecological risk and contributes most to RI. The ecological risk level of heavy metals in the sediments of the section of Songhua River in Harbin is moderate.

scholarly journals Risk assessment for chemical substances: the link between toxicology and public health

1993 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 439-447 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francisco J. R. Paumgartten
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Scientific Data ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Chemical Substances ◽  
Risk Assessment Process ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health

Virtually all chemical substances may cause adverse health effects, depending on the dose and conditions under which individuals are exposed to them. Toxicology - the study of harmful effects of chemicals on living organisms - provides the scientific data base on which risk assessment of adverse health effects stands. Risk assessment (RA) is the process of estimating the probability that a chemical compound will produce adverse effects on a given population, under particular conditions of exposure. Risk assessment process consists of four stages: Hazard Identification (HI), Exposure Assessment (EA), Dose-Response Assessment (DRA), and Risk Characterization (RC). The risk assessment process as a whole makes it possible to carry out cost(risk)/benefit analysis, and thus risk management, on a rational basis. A capacity to undertake risk assessment is thus sine qua non for making decisions that are concerned with achieving a balance between economic development and adequate protection of public health and the environment.

Risk-Based Radiological Site Investigation and Assessment Methodology for the Sellafield Site, Cumbria, UK

2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamdi El-Ghonemy ◽  
Candida Lean ◽  
Alexander G. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Retrieval System ◽  
Preliminary Investigation ◽  
Site Investigation ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Preliminary Assessment ◽  
Unique Approach ◽  
Working Practices ◽  
Identification Stage ◽  
A Site

A preliminary assessment of the Sellafield site in Cumbria was undertaken to provide the information for the hazard identification stage in the environmental risk assessment process. This preliminary investigation has been crucial to understanding the site’s history, the zones of potential risk and for the design of a site investigation. The formalised assessment strategy that has subsequently been developed by BNFL for the Sellafield study has drawn upon UK and international guidance to take into account the size of the site and the anticipated complexity of issues. The approach presented represents an advance on existing working practices in contaminated land investigations. The use of a generic list of Features, Events and Processes (FEPs) has been adopted to ensure the systematic and comprehensive appraisal of all relevant uncertainties and sources of risk. Proforma have also been developed to provide a data management and retrieval system that is transparent for quality assurance purposes. This unique approach facilitates the development of conceptual site models as new data become available during the site investigation. It also aids in the development and justification of alternative site conceptualisations and in the early identification of data and interpretative uncertainty.

scholarly journals An Integrated Approach to Risk Assessment for Special Line Shunting Via Fuzzy Theory

Symmetry ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huafeng Zhang ◽  
Quanxin Sun
Keyword(s):  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Safety Management ◽  
Fuzzy Theory ◽  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Risk Levels ◽  
Fishbone Diagram ◽  
Human Management ◽  
Assessment Techniques ◽  
Risk Managers

Railway special line shunting safety is a complicated systemic topic, which is full of uncertainty and dynamic; safety is determined by numerous aspects, including human, management, environmental, and equipment factors. Many railway risk assessment techniques currently used are comparatively mature tools. However, in many circumstances, the application of these tools gives unsatisfactory results because the risk data are incomplete or involve high levels of uncertainty. Because risk assessment technology has its own applicability that it may not suitable for the three sub-processes of risk assessment, it is difficult to obtain ideal effects by using a single tool in the risk assessment process. This paper presents an integrated approach for conducting special-line shunting risk assessment, using fishbone diagram analysis, fuzzy reasoning approaches, and a fuzzy analytical hierarchy tool, which can evaluate both qualitative and quantitative risk data efficiently and effectively. The outcomes of risk assessment are represented as risk degrees and risk levels, providing railway safety risk managers and engineers with tools to improve their safety management standards. A case study is used to demonstrate the proposed methodology. The results reveal that the proposed model can effectively and efficiently assess risks associated with a special-line shunting system, yielding more reliable and realistic solutions.

Guidelines to Conducting Threat Susceptibility and Identification Assessments of Pipelines Prior to Reactivation

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chad Bunch ◽  
Glenn Cameron ◽  
Rafael G. Mora
Keyword(s):  
Threat Assessment ◽  
Hazard Identification ◽  
Assessment Process ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Regulatory Requirements ◽  
Operational Conditions ◽  
Industry Standards ◽  
Assessment Approach ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Identification Analysis

This paper provides guidelines to identify all threats and assess a pipeline’s susceptibility to those threats in order to select appropriate and effective mitigation, monitoring, and prevention measures prior to reactivating pipelines. The intent of this paper is to provide pipeline operators, consultants and regulatory agencies with a generic threat assessment approach that has to be customized to the pipeline-specific characteristics and conditions, and the regulatory requirements of its own jurisdiction. A literature review and authors’ experiences across the pipeline industry have identified the need for a generic, yet complete approach that guides pipeline integrity engineers in the methodologies that adequately and effectively assess threats prior to reactivation and that can be validated in a timely manner during the operations. Pipeline operators may be called on to reactivate pipelines that are facing challenges such as aging, changes in operational conditions, lack of maintenance and inconsistent integrity practices while facing constraints from increasing population density, higher pressure and flow throughput requirements of a competitive marketplace, and regulatory requirements insisting on higher levels of safety and protection of the environment. This paper was structured with the following components to assist the reader in conducting threat assessments: • Current regulations and recognized industry standards with respect to reactivating pipelines; • Definition of and differentiation between hazard and threat; • Hazard identification analysis for the known and potential situations, events and conditions; and • Threat susceptibility and identification analysis process for the known categories derived from the hazard identification process. A case study is described as an example of applying the guidelines to conduct threat susceptibility and identification assessments of a pipeline prior to its reactivation. The results from the threat susceptibility and identification assessment process can help operators, consultants and regulators in determining effective inspection, mitigation, prevention and monitoring measures.

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