|
|
 |
Emergency Management Department
Gay Ernst, Director
27 N.2nd Avenue
Walla Walla, WA
99362 |
|
|
Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis
|
|
We are faced with numerous natural and
technological hazards in Walla Walla County. The links below
contain information about each of these hazards and a vulnerability
analysis.
We are currently conducting a
Hazard Identification and Vulnerability Analysis, which will provide
priorities for mitigation, preparedness and response
planning. |
|
|
|
* November 14, 2008: Recent findings by the U.S.A.C.E may invalidate the risk rating stated in the Mill Creek Dam Failure Hazard Identification Vulnerability Assessment.
The following terms are used
to analyze the hazards:
PROBABILITY OF OCCURRENCE - An adjective description
(High, Medium, or Low) of the probability of a hazard impacting
Walla Walla County within the next 25 years. Probability is based on
a limited objective appraisal of a hazard's frequency using
information provided by relevant sources, observations and
trends. |
- HIGH: There is great likelihood that a
hazardous event will occur within the next 25 years.
- MEDIUM: There is moderate likelihood that
a hazardous event will occur within the next 25 years.
- LOW: There is little likelihood that a hazardous event will
occur within the next 25 years.
|
|
VULNERABILITY- An adjective description
(High, Medium, or Low) of the potential impact a hazard could have
on Walla Walla County. It is the ratio of population, property,
commerce, infrastructure and services at risk relative to the entire
County. Vulnerability is an estimate generally based on a hazard's
characteristics.
- HIGH: The total population, property,
commerce, infrastructure and services of the county are uniformly
exposed to the effects of a hazard of potentially great magnitude.
In a worse case scenario there could be a disaster of major to
catastrophic proportions.
- MEDIUM: The total population, property,
commerce, infrastructure and services of the county are exposed to
the effects of a hazard of moderate influence; or the total
population, property, commerce, infrastructure and services of the
county are exposed to the effects of a hazard, but not all to the
same degree; or an important segment of population, property,
commerce, infrastructure or service is exposed to the effects of a
hazard. In a worse case scenario there could be a disaster of
moderate to major, though not catastrophic, proportions
- LOW: A limited area or segment of
population, property, commerce, infrastructure or service is
exposed to the effects of a hazard. In a worse case scenario there
could be a disaster of minor to moderate
proportions.
|
|
RISK RATING - An adjective description
(High, Medium, or Low) of the overall threat posed by a hazard over
the next 25 years. It is a subjective estimate of the combination of
probability of occurrence and vulnerability.
- HIGH: There is strong potential for a
disaster of major proportions during the next 25 years; or history
suggests the occurrence of multiple disasters of moderate
proportions during the next 25 years. The threat is significant
enough to warrant major program effort to prepare for, respond to,
recover from, and mitigate against this hazard. This hazard should
be a major focus of the County's emergency management training and
exercise program.
- MEDIUM: There is moderate potential for a
disaster of less than major proportions during the next 25 years.
The threat is great enough to warrant modest effort to prepare
for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against this hazard.
This hazard should be included in the county's emergency
management training and exercise program.
- LOW: There is little potential for a disaster during the next
25 years. The threat is such as to warrant little special effort
to prepare for, respond to, recover from, or mitigate against this
hazard. This hazard need not be specifically addressed in the
county's emergency management training and exercise program except
as generally dealt with during hazard awareness
training.
|
|
