Project Highlights, Risk Assessment

A dedication to research characterizes JH Consulting’s risk assessment services. All available sources are utilized, ranging from Internet searches to local media reviews to listing historical occurrences to interviews with local officials and the affected public.

The purpose is obvious: no single hazard affects any two communities the same.

At JH Consulting (JHC), we strive to understand the types of hazards you face. We start all of our risk assessments with a project kick-off meeting. This meeting lets us talk candidly with you about what areas are most susceptible to hazards. We take this opportunity to discuss historical losses (from not only an economic perspective but also losses of life and culture). No one knows your communities better than you – that’s why your knowledge is our starting point.

Next, we gather data. Collection is often characterized by field reconnaissance. In any event, we feel that it is important to be in your community to best understand what affects it. We employ all manner of research techniques, including document reviews, site assessments, and interviews with community leaders and residents.

Once we feel we have collected sufficient data, we again meet with you and your representatives to review our findings. In many cases, these data confirm your assumptions; in some cases, they do not. In any event, we ensure that you are comfortable with the results before we continue.

With your approval, we run the appropriate analysis on the data. Such analyses could include FEMA loss estimate matrices, asset inventory lists, plume modeling, modified Cost Benefit Analysis (CBA) techniques, etc. Ultimately, this process takes the hard data we find and converts it into the vulnerability assessment information you can use.

The project concludes with the presentation of the assessment to you. This can be done on a small scale (i.e. just to your office) or in a more “community” setting depending on the goals of your project. As with all of our jobs, we are with you until you are satisfied. Once we assess your risks, you will know where you stand.

Risk Assessment Project Examples

• Lewis County (WV) Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan
• Kanawha Putnam (WV) Emergency Planning Committee Commodity Flow Study
• Hancock County (WV) Hazmat Vulnerability Assessment
• Cuyahoga County (OH) Resource Manual

Contact us for more information on these projects.