Toward a National Hazards Risk Assessment
-
Patrick Roberts
The Department of Homeland Security uses a particular kind of vulnerability approach to allocate many of its disaster preparedness resources but it should allocate a greater number of resources using a risk-based approach in order to reduce future disaster losses. A true risk-based strategy of resource allocation demands the development of a national risk assessment that is too expensive, wide-ranging, and technically complex for states and localities to develop on their own. A risk-based approach would allocate more money toward more frequent but less catastrophic or visible disasters that, over time, may cost more than low probability, high consequence disasters. This paper explores the virtues and vices of both vulnerability and risk-based planning approaches, examines recent efforts in the DHS to plan for catastrophes, and analyzes the challenges in developing a national risk assessment.
©2011 Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Related Research Article
- Relevant Research in Other Publications
- Book Review
- Review of The Storm by Ivor van Heerden
- Review of System Under Stress
- Review of Technology in Emergency Management
- Review of Disaster Response and Homeland Security
- Review of Introduction to International Disaster Management
- Communication/News
- Building an Emergency Response Competency System: Optimizing Emergency Personnel Mobilization
- So Are You Still Active in the Field, Or Do You Just Teach?
- Toward a National Hazards Risk Assessment
- Ready, Set, Go: Recruitment, Training, Coordination, and Retention Values for All-Hazard Partnerships
- Testimony on Needed Emergency Management Reforms
- GIS Maps to Communicate Emergency Preparedness: How Useable Are They for Inner City Residents?
- Research Article
- Community Training in Bioterror Response
- Multi-Modal Mass Evacuation in Upstate New York: A Review of Disaster Plans
- An Assessment of the Cultural Appropriateness of Emergency Preparedness Communication for Low Income Minorities
- Systems Dynamics Model of Al-Qa'ida and United States "Competition"
Articles in the same Issue
- Related Research Article
- Relevant Research in Other Publications
- Book Review
- Review of The Storm by Ivor van Heerden
- Review of System Under Stress
- Review of Technology in Emergency Management
- Review of Disaster Response and Homeland Security
- Review of Introduction to International Disaster Management
- Communication/News
- Building an Emergency Response Competency System: Optimizing Emergency Personnel Mobilization
- So Are You Still Active in the Field, Or Do You Just Teach?
- Toward a National Hazards Risk Assessment
- Ready, Set, Go: Recruitment, Training, Coordination, and Retention Values for All-Hazard Partnerships
- Testimony on Needed Emergency Management Reforms
- GIS Maps to Communicate Emergency Preparedness: How Useable Are They for Inner City Residents?
- Research Article
- Community Training in Bioterror Response
- Multi-Modal Mass Evacuation in Upstate New York: A Review of Disaster Plans
- An Assessment of the Cultural Appropriateness of Emergency Preparedness Communication for Low Income Minorities
- Systems Dynamics Model of Al-Qa'ida and United States "Competition"
