Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment is an integral component of mitigation planning and emergency management. To plan and implement effective mitigation projects, hazard identification and risk assessment must be completed. SCEMD has partnered with the Hazard & Vulnerability Research Institute (HVRI) at the University of South Carolina to provide local and statewide risk assessments. These assessments can be integrated into the state and local hazard mitigation plans required by FEMA in the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. For hazard information, see the Hazard Identification Web Mapping Service: http://mapra.cas.sc.edu/emdbeta/index.html. To complete a local risk assessment for a hazard mitigation plan, see the Integrated Hazard Assessment Tool (IHAT): http://mapra.cas.sc.edu/ihat/index.html.

HAZUS and GIS software provide the most accurate place-based analysis for various levels of geography. To improve risk assessment, SCEMD is updating the infrastructure data used in HAZUS. The Comprehensive Data Management System (CDMS) was created by FEMA to streamline the data update process. South Carolina was chosen as the pilot state for the nation to test the web version of the CDMS. The implementation of this project has been very successful to date. Various counties in the state have updated their essential facility data into the portal. The essential facilities include police stations, fire stations, emergency operation centers, schools and medical care centers. In the future, all 46 counties will undergo an annual update of all essential facilities and other critical infrastructure. The improved dataset will be incorporated in HAZUS analysis for hurricane, earthquake, and flood events. The CDMS Web Portal can be accessed here: http://www.scemdinfrastructuredatabase.com/.

To increase coordination with state and local entities involved in risk assessment, the South Carolina HAZUS User Group (SCHUG) was created in October 2008. The mission of the SCHUG is to reduce the loss of life and property caused by natural and technological hazards in South Carolina through the implementation of improved HAZUS-MH analysis into the preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation stages of the emergency management cycle. The SCHUG is currently seeking new members who are HAZUS users, GIS analysts, hazard experts or emergency managers from state and local agencies. The group holds quarterly conference calls to share risk assessment projects from around the state. For more information on the SCHUG, visit: http://www.usehazus.com/schug/index.php.

Risk Assessment Resources

State Risk Assessment

County Risk Assessments

Coastal Sea Level Rise

For more information, contact:

Melissa Berry Potter
State Hazard Mitigation Officer
Email: mberry@emd.sc.gov
(o): 803-737-8856