Risk Evaluation

1
Risk Evaluation

• Determines the relative seriousness of hazard
  risks as they affect the local community

2
The public is willing to accept voluntary
risks approximately 1,000 times greater than
involuntary risksKeith Smith, in Environmental
Hazards Assessing and Reducing Disaster
3
3 Methods Used to Evaluate Risk

• Creating a risk matrix
• Comparing hazard risks against levels of risk
  estimated during the analysis process with
  previously established risk evaluation criteria
• Evaluating risks according the SMAUG methodology

4
FEMA Risk Matrix Values

• Class A High-risk condition with highest
  priority for mitigation and contingency planning
  (immediate action)
• Class B Moderate-to-high-risk condition with
  risk addressed by mitigation and contingency
  planning (prompt action)
• Class C Risk condition sufficiently high to give
  consideration for further mitigation and planning
  (planned action)
• Class D Low-risk condition with additional
  mitigation contingency planning (advisory in
  nature)

5
Risk Matrix Example
Source Federal Emergency Management Agency.
1997. MultiHazard Identification and Risk
Assessment. FEMA. Washington, DC. P.315
6
Risk Register

• Name of the Risk
• Qualitative likelihood value
• Qualitative consequences value
• Level of risk as determined by evaluation on the
  risk matrix
• Priority rating
• Additional information

7
Risk Evaluation Criteria

• Loss of life and harm to peoples health
• Economic loss
• Environmental harm
• Lifeline damage
• Social infrastructure damage
• Loss of heritage

8
Hazards Risk Management Analysis Context

• Legal requirements
• Cost and equity
• Risks that are clearly unacceptable
• Risks that should be kept as low as reasonably
  practicable

9
SMAUG Prioritization Process
From Lunn, John. 2003. Community Consultation
The Foundation of Effective Risk Management.
Journal of Emergency Management. V.1, No.1,
Spring. Pp. 39-48.