Hazard Analysis Process

Although every community is different, there are some basic steps that need to be performed to effectively assess risks and vulnerabilities for the community. These common steps are shown on the graphic collectively as the Hazard Analysis Process. The next several screens will describe each of these steps in greater detail.

Graph of Hazard Analysis Process – 1. Identify hazards. 2. Profile hazards. 3. Inventory assets. 4. Estimate losses.
FEMA has produced a step-by-step how-to guide for conducting this assessment. Publication 386-2, Understanding Your Risks: Identifying Hazards and Estimating Losses, explains the process in detail and provides helpful worksheets for each step. A link to the FEMA Library, where you can search for and download this publication, is provided in the Toolkit.