JIBC Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability Analysis 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In risk communication, the 'outrage factor' concept introduced by Peter Sandman suggests that public risk perception is driven primarily by:
- Actual statistical probability of harm
- Emotional and contextual factors beyond technical hazard levels (Correct answer)
- Government-issued risk ratings
- Media coverage frequency
Correct answer: Emotional and contextual factors beyond technical hazard levels
Sandman's formula (Risk = Hazard + Outrage) shows that perceived risk is heavily shaped by factors like voluntariness, trust, and fairness, not just technical probability.
Question 2: Which method is most appropriate for identifying interdependencies between critical infrastructure during a risk assessment?
- Single-sector analysis
- System-of-systems modeling (Correct answer)
- Historical incident review only
- Random sampling surveys
Correct answer: System-of-systems modeling
System-of-systems modeling captures how failures in one infrastructure sector (e.g., power) can propagate to others (e.g., water, communications), revealing interdependencies.
Question 3: The term 'residual risk' in emergency management refers to:
- Risk eliminated by mitigation measures
- The level of risk remaining after mitigation controls are applied (Correct answer)
- Risk transferred to insurance companies
- Risk accepted voluntarily by individuals
Correct answer: The level of risk remaining after mitigation controls are applied
Residual risk is the risk that remains after mitigation strategies have been implemented, representing the irreducible level of risk that must be managed.
Question 4: During a Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA), communities are required to establish:
- A list of past disaster insurance claims
- Capability targets for core capabilities based on identified threats and hazards (Correct answer)
- National hazard rankings only
- Annual disaster budgets
Correct answer: Capability targets for core capabilities based on identified threats and hazards
THIRA requires communities to define specific capability targets for each core capability, informed by the threats and hazards identified in the assessment.
Question 5: A 'technological hazard' in emergency management typically includes:
- Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
- Hazardous material releases, industrial accidents, and infrastructure failures (Correct answer)
- Droughts and heat waves
- Political instability and civil unrest
Correct answer: Hazardous material releases, industrial accidents, and infrastructure failures
Technological hazards arise from human-made systems and include events like chemical spills, nuclear accidents, dam failures, and other industrial incidents.
Question 6: When applying the 'bow-tie' model in risk analysis, the left side of the bow-tie represents:
- Consequences and recovery measures
- Threats, causes, and preventive barriers before the hazardous event (Correct answer)
- Post-incident review findings
- Regulatory compliance requirements
Correct answer: Threats, causes, and preventive barriers before the hazardous event
The left side of the bow-tie model identifies the threat sources and preventive barriers that stop a hazardous event from occurring.
Question 7: In the context of JIBC emergency management programs, 'mitigation' is best defined as:
- Returning a community to normal after a disaster
- Actions taken to eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage from hazards (Correct answer)
- The immediate response to a disaster event
- Preparing plans and training responders before a disaster
Correct answer: Actions taken to eliminate or reduce the loss of life and property damage from hazards
Mitigation encompasses actions taken before a disaster to permanently reduce or eliminate long-term risk to people and property.
JIBC Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability Analysis 3
In risk communication, the 'outrage factor' concept introduced by Peter Sandman suggests that public risk perception is driven primarily by: