The core of emergency management: knowing about the hazards and risks that could cause emergencies in our community.
Hazard identification and risk assessment produces a community risk profile that helps set priorities and guide development of the emergency management elements: prevention & mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
A hazard is an event or physical condition that has the potential to cause fatalities, injuries, property damage, infrastructure damage, agricultural loss, damage to the environment, interruption of business, or other types of harm or loss.
Hazards Posing Risk in Barrie
Natural:
- Severe winter storms: heavy snow, strong winds, freezing rain
- Severe summer storms: heavy rain and flooding, strong winds, lightning, hail, tornadoes
- Extreme heat and cold waves
- Human disease and epidemic
Technological:
- Interruption to lifelines and utilities: especially power outages
- Structure fires
- Major industrial and/or transportation accident involving hazardous materials
Human-caused:
- Human error, vandalism and terrorism
Evolving Hazards in Barrie
- Expansion of industry and commerce in the south part of the City may increase the use or manufacture of toxic chemicals.
- Plans for highway expansions will increase traffic volume and accidents involving multiple vehicles and/or hazardous materials.
- Climate change is increasing the risk of weather extremes causing drought, flooding, heat waves, and severe storms.
- Human health emergencies, including influenza pandemic, are increasing internationally.
- Acts of terrorism may target critical infrastructure, major industries and key government facilities.
- Computer viruses are more common.