Just over a month ago, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) published Community Preparedness Guidance (CPG) 201—a document explaining how states should prepare a threat and hazard identification and risk assessment (THIRA). In order for states to maintain eligibility for various grant funds they are required to complete a THIRA by December 31, 2012. The ambitious deadline has made many states concerned over the expectations, especially given their limited staff and budgetary resources on-hand to complete the requirements.

CPG 201

The published guidance, in its current state, allows for interpretation of its process and required documentation. THIRA is not a standalone document or process separate from all other emergency management preparedness initiatives. Its analysis incorporates information that usually exists in one form or another. All of the items are interrelated and each plays an important role in developing a comprehensive THIRA. Some pre-existing resources include state infrastructure protection plans, state preparedness reports, state homeland security plans, emergency operations plans and annexes, training and exercise plans, hazard mitigation plans and capability assessments.

Seven Steps to Prepare a CPG 201-Compliant THIRA

At Dewberry, we've established a seven step approach, streamlining coordination and building upon prior planning efforts to help states prepare a CPG 201-compliant THIRA.

Step 1: Prioritize

• Help clients review their hazards and threats identified and evaluated in other planning efforts (e.g., hazard mitigation plans)
• Help facilitate a prioritization process, confirming the "highest ranked/most probable" hazards and threats of concern

Step 2: Define Scenarios

• Our tools aid in the evaluation of each hazard/threat for past occurrences and potential impacts during different seasons, times of day, and at various locations
• Draft scenarios with the client for each hazard/threat of greatest concern, incorporating an evaluation of the most vulnerable assets and potential impacts to critical facilities and key populations

Step 3: Define Outcomes

• Include customization of clients' desired outcomes for the 31 core capabilities as defined within the National Preparedness Goal (PPD-8)

Step 4: Estimate Impacts

• Use existing data and conduct further research to estimate the potential impacts of each scenario developed in Step 2, above

Step 5: Evaluate Impacts

• Evaluate the vetted estimated impacts with clients to identify the worst potential impact for each core capability. Collaboratively develop 31 target statements bringing together the desired outcomes and estimated impacts—detailing necessary resources to address worst case impacts

Step 6: Apply

• Workshops are an effective method for applying THIRA results—improvement actions are identified, vetted, and prioritized, allowing our clients to begin building their capabilities

Step 7: Maintenance

• DHS encourages states to maintain their THIRA through regular review and ongoing updates. We provide clients with useable tools to maintain a continuous planning process and update priorities for improvement

This process will not only yield quantitative results by which state's can use to allocate funds—expanding capabilities—but it will also allow for states to develop action plans to prioritize needs against hazards of greatest concern.