The foundational first step in conducting aHazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA), as outlined inFEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG) 101and theTHIRAprocess, isHazard Identification, which involvesevaluating known hazards and risks posing threatsto the community or facility.4Before a planner can decide on a methodology (Option A) or consult specific experts (Option B), they must first understand the "Universe of Hazards" that could potentially impact their jurisdiction.

This initial step involves researching historical data, geographic surveys, and industrial records to create a "Master Hazard List." Hazards are typically categorized into three groups:

Natural Hazards:Floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and wildfires.

Technological/Human-Caused Hazards:Chemical spills, power grid failures, and dam breaches.

Adversarial/Threat-Based Hazards:Terrorist attacks, civil unrest, and cyber-attacks.

For theCEDPprofessional, this first step is critical because it dictates the entire scope of the emergency management program. If a hazard—such as a localized earthquake fault—is not "identified" and "evaluated" in the beginning, the resulting Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) will have a fundamental gap. Once the hazards are evaluated, the HVA process then moves to "Profiling" (determining frequency and magnitude) and "Vulnerability Assessment" (determining who and what is at risk). By starting with a comprehensive evaluation of known hazards, the organization ensures that its preparedness efforts are grounded in reality and that its limited mitigation resources are directed toward the threats that pose the greatest risk to life and property.