How county/city emergency managers can assess vulnerability to hurricanes, develop response plans and mitigate risk

After a quiet two decades of tropical cyclone activity in the Atlantic basin, the last decade has shown a marked increase in activity and resultant damage. Coincident with this is the upward trend in coastal population along the hurricaneprone coastline of theUSA from Maine to Texas. Preparedness and planning are therefore essential to minimise the impact of these powerful and destructive storms. This paper provides a framework for the environmental hazard portion of an effective risk and vulnerability assessment process which involves identifying potential hazards and evaluating the relative risks with respect to community/business infrastructure. Through this process, emergency planners can obtain a firm understanding of the relationship between the hazards and risk factors to develop effective mitigation strategies. A review of tropical cyclone basics is presented along with an overview of the hurricane forecast process and hurricane hazards. Several risk and vulnerability assessment process tools are discussed to assist emergency managers/planners in developing hurricane response plans. The paper concludes with a review of hurricane preparedness concepts and provides information on pre-hurricane season activities, along with watch and warning, and post-hurricane actions.