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Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Tool (RVAT)
Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Steps Environmental Analysis and Extended Discussion Print VersionWhy would I do this analysis?The purpose of this analysis is to identify environmental resources that may be impacted by secondary hazards and target both the secondary hazard sites and the environmental resources for hazard mitigation activities. Environmental resources may be impacted when a primary hazard (e.g., hurricane, earthquake, wildfire, etc.) triggers additional hazards such as toxic releases or hazardous spills.
Examples of Environmental Resources:
Examples of Secondary Hazard Sites:
Give me an example of something I might do in this analysis.First, identify potentially hazardous sites in your community. Then, identify which of those hazardous facilities are located within high hazard areas (locations where primary hazards most often occur). Next, prioritize these hazardous facilities by identifying which ones are in closest proximity to vulnerable environmental resources. Target these sites for vulnerability assessments. Conduct detailed structural assessments on all public-sector sites to identify potential mitigation actions.
Vulnerability Analysis Activities:To prioritize which facilities pose the biggest threats, you can perform in-depth structural and operational analyses on the selected facilities, collecting data such as structural integrity, construction type and quality, age, size, and other pertinent information. Also identify the types of materials contained at or discharged from the facilities, as well as what impacts the materials might have on environmental resources. What are my steps?
What data will I need?Primary Hazards:
Secondary Hazards:
Environmental Resources:
Other:
Where can I obtain these data and information?
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. Local (county or municipality level) — Local Environmental Offices, Reserves, Waste Water Facilities, Planning, Parks and Recreation, Local Businesses and Hazardous Materials Factories, and others. Regional (state level) — State environmental offices, Department of Natural Resources National (federal level) — EPA, Department of Transportation, NOAA, and others Potential Partners/Stakeholders ListLocal (county or municipality)
Regional (state or states)
National (federal)
Extended DiscussionObjectives:Identify which hazardous facilities pose potential secondary hazards and can impact key environmental resources Purpose:Mitigate prioritized hazardous facilities and environmental resources to prevent secondary hazard impacts Primary Steps:
DescriptionThis analysis focuses on identifying hazardous facilities or secondary risk sites that may threaten environmental resources because of the location in a primary hazard area. For example a sewage treatment plant located in a high storm surge area may be damaged in the next hurricane, thus releasing untreated sewage into a nearby water system, contaminating the water supply and potentially harming the local ecosystem. By identifying and prioritizing the hazardous facilities that intersect with environmental resources, mitigation strategies to protect both can be developed. Identify Secondary Risk Sites (Hazardous Facilities)Create a list of hazardous facilities in your community. Hazardous facilities may include the following:
Identify where secondary risk sites (hazardous facilities) and natural hazard areas intersectOverlay hazardous facilities with natural hazard areas to determine which of these facilities may cause secondary hazards
Prioritize the secondary risk sites (high-risk hazardous facilities) based upon their proximity to environmental resourcesOverlay the hazardous facilities with environmental resource sites to determine their proximity to high-risk hazard areas. Prioritize these locations by listing which facilities are closest to environmental resources and might pose a threat in the event of a natural hazard. To prioritize which facilities pose the biggest threats, you can perform an in-depth structural and operational analysis on the selected facilities, collecting data to determine the structural integrity, such as construction type and quality, age, size, and other pertinent information. Also identify the types of materials contained at the facilities, as well as what impacts the materials might have on environmental resources. Table 1. Example of risk summary scores and the number of environmental resource areas associated with each of the secondary risk sites.
This table lists the hazardous facility type, number of hazardous facilities that intersect with a natural resource, the risk summary score, and the environmental sensitivity to that specific hazardous facility contents. Information from the Table
Conduct a vulnerability analysis on prioritized secondary risk sites (hazardous facilities) and environmental resource sitesConduct detailed structural assessments on all public-sector sites to identify potential mitigation actions. For private-sector facilities, establish partnerships with each facility and educate key facility personnel on potential hazards and ways to mitigate and prevent future losses. Also contact staff at the environmental resource sites about the potential impacts to their sites. Work with these individuals to develop plans on how to lessen the damage in the event of secondary hazard impacts. Data Resources for AnalysisPrimary Hazards:
Secondary Hazards:
Environmental Resources:
Other Data:
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Environmental
impacts are important to consider because they not only jeopardize habitats and
species, but they can also threaten public health (e.g., water quality), various
economic sectors (e.g., tourism and fishing), and quality of life (e.g., access
to natural landscapes and recreational activities). For example, flooding (a primary
hazard) can result in contamination (a secondary hazard) whereby raw sewage, animal
carcasses, chemicals, pesticides, hazardous materials, etc. are suspended and
transported through sensitive habitats, neighborhoods, and businesses. These circumstances
can result in major cleanup and remediation activities, as well as natural resource
degradation.
For
private-sector facilities, establish partnerships with each facility and educate
key facility personnel on potential hazards and ways to mitigate and prevent future
losses. Also contact staff at the environmental resource sites about the potential
impacts to their sites. Work with these individuals to develop plans on how to
lessen the damage in the event of secondary hazard impacts.
