Essay - Emergency Planning Hazard Potential Grid Criteria Proba- Bility Predic- Tability...

EMERGENCY PLANNING

Hazard Potential Grid

*****

Proba- bility

Predic- ta*****

Fre- quen- cy

Speed of Onset

Control- lability

Op- tions

Scope and

Inten- sity

Sources for

Assis- tance

Com- munity

Vulnera- bility

Score

*****

Earthquake

Flood

Terrorist attack

Act of war

Tornado

Blizzard

Lowest risk within ten years =1; highest risk = 5

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Earthquake: St. Louis is about 200 miles from the New Madrid Fault, but because ***** the geology of the region, shock waves travel a very long d*****t*****nce with considerable **********. A major New Madrid ***** earthquake could destroy many vulnerable buildings, do ***** damage to others, buckle highways and collapse overpasses and possibly bridges. Although the fault has not triggered a major ***** in modern times, ***** 1809 ***** 1810 it ***** two earthquakes about six weeks apart that were both probably around 8.0 on ***** Richter scale. The region avoided major damage and loss of life only ***** the area was barely populated. Earthquakes rate highest on the chart because they can ***** major, devastating damage ***** no warning, and because the area is inadequately prepared for an earthquake.

Flood: St. Louis is located at the confluence ***** the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers. Both rivers have significant tributaries in ***** region. The last major regional flood was in 1993. It did major damage, made whole towns uninhabitable, destroyed millions of acres of farm crops, isol*****ed small communities, and disrupted railroads. However, there was little loss of life, and major support services such as fire, police and medical care, remained functional and were not overwhelmed by events.

Terrorist Attacks: *****. Louis ***** a major public attraction, which is also a n*****tional park - the St. Louis Arch. It also h***** a major international airport t*****at serves as ***** hub for American Airlines.

Act of War: Although the United States is at war with terror*****t organiza***** ***** may soon be at ***** with Iraq, the military install*****ions in St. ***** and the immediate area are small. *****, Fort Leonard Wood is ***** far from St. Lou*****, and is a ***** tr*****ining base. If Ft. Leonard Wood were *****ed as a military target, it would put severe strain on *****. Louis public services since it is the nearest large city ***** a good source ***** fire fighters, police, and emergency medical care.

Tornado: Tornadoes are common in the St. Lou***** area. Recent incidents have involved small tornadoes that affected relatively small areas and ***** not cause extended or major damage. However, St. Louis is located on ***** plains, and weather systems often meet in the regi*****. The possibility always exists of a major tornado striking the greater *****. Louis area.

Blizzard: St. Louis occasionally receives heavy snowfall. One snowfall in ***** 19*****'s dropped two feet of snow ***** about 30 hours, paralyzing the metropolitan area for a week. The area has the capability to deal effectively with small and mode***** amounts of snow, but ***** very ***** snowfalls that occur about every 10 ***** paralyze the region and