To further focus your mitigation planning efforts, you must consider how the hazards may affect your community. Describe the characteristics of each event by considering what each hazard does and what happens in the community as a result. Use historical data, existing plans and reports, forecasts, and other information, to answer the following questions:

• How often is this hazard likely to occur?
• What happens as a result of this hazard (e.g., high wind, flooding, etc.)?
• Where is it likely to strike?
• How large an area is it likely to affect?
• How long can it be expected to last?
• What time of year is it more likely to occur?
• How fast is it likely to occur?
• Does a warning system exist, and how much warning time is there?
• What is the potential for cascading effects?