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YOUR NAME HERE
Organization Selected
<<Select an organization you are familiar with and that will allow you to interview at least 2 other people who are also familiar with it. This organization may be where you work, a business or community group (e.g., your auto repair shop, your doctor's office, your child's school, your homeowners association), or local government. Also identify the organization’s assets at risk, both tangible and intangible. These are the things that are vulnerable or exposed to risks, as distinct from the vulnerabilities or weaknesses that a threat can exploit. As defined in Disaster Resilience: A National Imperative (National Academy of Sciences, 2012),
Exposure refers to the community’s assets (people, property, and infrastructure) subject to the hazard’s damaging impacts. Exposure is calculated from data about the value, location, and physical dimensions of an asset; construction type, quality, and age of specific structures; spatial distribution of those occupying the structures; and characteristics of the natural environment such as wetlands, ecosystems, flora, and fauna that could either mitigate effects from or be impacted by the hazard. (p. 26) Vulnerability is the potential for harm to the community and relates to physical assets (building design and strength), social capital (community structure, trust, and family networks), and political access (ability to get government help and affect policies and decisions). Vulnerability also refers to how sensitive a population may be to a hazard or to disruptions caused by the hazard. The sensitivity can affect the ability of these populations to be resilient to disasters. Vulnerability is projected by the presence and effectiveness of measures taken to avoid or reduce the impact of the hazard through physical or structural methods (e.g., levees, floodwalls, or disaster-resistant construction) and through nonstructural actions (e.g., relocation, temporary evacuation, land-use zoning, building codes, insurance, forecasts, and early warning systems), or construction-related and non-construction-related methods. (p. 27)
Briefly describe the organization you selected. Explain why you chose this particular organization. List the major intangible and tangible assets at risk (a minimum of 5 assets):
• Asset 1
• Asset 2
• Etc.
The Interviews
<<Interview at least 2 people and brainstorm with them about threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences of disruptions or disasters to your selected organization. >> Describe the people you interviewed. (If they would prefer to be anonymous, you may identify them by title and function; for example, assistant vice president at a branch bank office.) Explain why you selected these people to interview.
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Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Consequences
<< List threats, vulnerabilities, and consequences that could directly affect the organization’s operations, strategy or mission, information and information systems, financial stability, reputation, or legal position. The threats (with associated vulnerabilities and consequences) will be from:
a) Disasters or catastrophes from natural, technological, or human-caused hazards b) Disruptive business or management crises
These lists come out of the brainstorming and any other research you did. Be sure to edit information from those you interviewed, so it correctly fits the categories. You must have a TOTAL of 20 different threats (e.g., 12 disasters and 8 business crises). Fill in the information in the tables below. READ THE EXAMPLES IN THE INSTRUCTIONS; THEY WILL BE HELPFUL. ALSO REVIEW WEEK 2 LECTURE INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES ON THREATS, VULNERABILITIES, AND CONSEQUENCES. >> Table 1 Disasters / Catastrophes
Threats Vulnerabilities Consequences
Threat #1 • Vulnerability 1
• Vulnerability 2
• Consequence 1
• Consequence 2
Threat #2 • Vulnerability 1
• Vulnerability 2
• Consequence 1
• Consequence 2
<<Add a row for each threat. >> Table 2 Disruptive Business or Management Crises
Threats Vulnerabilities Consequences
Threat #X • Vulnerability 1
• Vulnerability 2
• Consequence 1
• Consequence 2
Threat #Y • Vulnerability 1
• Vulnerability 2
• Consequence 1
• Consequence 2
<<Add a row for each threat. >>
Analysis
<<Review the information in the tables. >> Are their patterns in the vulnerabilities and consequences? What does this imply about using all-hazards management approach?
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Recognizing and Mitigating Disasters and Crises
<<Discuss issues with and obstacles to getting people to recognize potential disasters and crises and mitigate them. >> Why do people or organizations find it hard to recognize potential disasters or business crises? Why do people or organizations find it hard to take action to mitigate potential adverse events?
Insights
<<Discuss what insights you gained from doing this assignment and how you might apply them. >> What insights did you gain from this assignment? How might you apply those insights to either work or home?
References
Make sure to proper cite and reference the sources you use to develop Tables 1 and 2. No personal communication/interview is included in your reference list; instead, parenthetically cite the communicator's name, the phrase "personal communication," and the date of the communication in your main text only. For example: “Blizzards are not a realistic threat in Miami (M. Kotzian, personal communications, May 13, 2020)”. Do not cite personal communications in the tables. Include references, as appropriate, to support all sections of your submission.
Statement Attesting to Original Work
"This paper, examination, report, or the section thereof for which I have indicated responsibility, is my own work. Any assistance I received in its preparation is acknowledged within the report or examination, in accordance with academic practice. For any data, ideas, words, diagrams, pictures, or other information from any source, quoted or not, I have cited the sources fully and completely in the text, in endnotes, or in footnotes and bibliographical entries, as required. Furthermore, I certify that the material was prepared by me specifically for this class and has not been submitted, in whole or significant part, to any other class in this university or elsewhere, or used for any purpose other than satisfying the requirements of this class, except that I am allowed to submit this material to a professional publication, peer reviewed journal, or professional conference. In adding my name following the word 'Signature', I intend that this certification will have the same authority and authenticity as a document executed with my hand-written signature." Signature ______________________________ Date ______________