At FEMA, we’ve been working hard to ensure that our nation continually strengthens its resiliency and becomes as prepared as it can be against all hazards. Today we took another step forward in that ongoing effort with the release of the Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 201: Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment. The THIRA process builds on the progress we’ve achieved so far with the National Preparedness Goal and the description of the National Preparedness System. Ultimately, the THIRA process provides a common way to more fully understand all of the risks communities face – thus helping the emergency management team make wise decisions to keep people safe.
What makes the THIRA unique is that it doesn’t just look at natural hazards or terrorist threats. Instead it takes into account the threats and hazards that pose the greatest risk to a community—regardless of the cause. The preparedness guide lays out a five-step process on how to do that, and it is adaptable to the needs and resources of our local, tribal, territorial, and state homeland security and emergency management partners. The five steps are:
- Identify the threats and hazards of concern - What could happen in my community?
- Give the threats and hazards context - Describe how a threat or hazard could happen in my community, and when and where it could happen.
- Examine the core capabilities using the threats and hazards - How would each threat or hazard affect the core capabilities identified in the National Preparedness Goal?
- Set capability targets - Using the information above, set the level of capability a community needs to prevent, protect against, mitigate, respond to, and recover from its risks.
- Apply the results - Use the capability targets to decide how to use resources from the Whole Community.
And it’s important to note that while the THIRA will be used to inform resource allocation and planning, the THIRA will not replace hazard mitigation plans. In fact, the THIRA will take into account the Hazard Identification and Risk Assessments that have already been written by local and state governments for the last decade.
To learn more about our overall preparedness efforts, we encourage you to read up on Presidential Policy Directive 8: National Preparedness.
Here is the link to CPG 201
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fema.gov/library/viewRecord.do?id=5823
This poorly conceived document contains scant guidance for this complex and labor intensive process. We face a nearly infinite variety of threats and hazards none of which can be predicted with accuracy. CPG-201 adds more variables to an already difficult HIRA process, some of which are meaningless (add "context") but all of which add complexity. The examples are weak and incomplete and add to our suspicion that FEMA itself cannot and does not do this. But because it is required for HS grant eligibility it will result in a nationwide exercise in futility
DeleteWe can assume that FEMA has successfully verified the process presented in this CPG guidance. Please post your sample of a completed THIRA document and any of the tools, templates, spreadsheets etc. that you developed for the task, so that we may emulate a worthy example.
ReplyDeleteI read your comments and would like to discuss further.
DeleteUnderstanding the risks faced by communities and the Nation as a whole, and how this information can be used to strengthen security and resilience locally and nationally is an essential component of the National Preparedness System. FEMA is looking for youth leaders who are dedicated to public service, who are making a difference in their community, and who want to expand their impact as a national advocate for youth preparedness.
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