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APPENDIX A. ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS <br />A-8 <br />Objective: For the purposes of this plan, an objective is defined as a short -term aim that, when combined <br />with other objectives, forms a strategy or course of action to meet a goal. Unlike goals, objectives are <br />specific and measurable. <br />Peak Ground Acceleration: Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA) is a measure of the highest amplitude of <br />ground shaking that accompanies an earthquake, based on a percentage of the force of gravity. <br />Preparedness: Preparedness refers to actions that strengthen the capability of government, citizens, and <br />communities to respond to disasters. <br />Presidential Disaster Declaration: These declarations are typically made for events that cause more <br />damage than state and local governments and resources can handle without federal government assistance. <br />Generally, no specific dollar loss threshold has been established for such declarations. A Presidential <br />Disaster Declaration puts into motion long-term federal recovery programs, some of which are matched by <br />state programs, designed to help disaster victims, businesses, and public entities. <br />Probability of Occurrence: The probability of occurrence is a statistical measure or estimate of the <br />likelihood that a hazard will occur. This probability is generally based on past hazard events in the area and <br />a forecast of events that could occur in the future. A probability factor based on yearly values of occurrence <br />is used to estimate probability of occurrence. <br />Repetitive Loss Property: Any NFIP-insured property that, since 1978 and regardless of any changes of <br />ownership during that period, has experienced: <br />• Four or more paid flood losses in excess of $1000.00; or <br />• Two paid flood losses in excess of $1000.00 within any 10-year period since 1978 or <br />• Three or more paid losses that equal or exceed the current value of the insured property. <br />Return Period (or Mean Return Period): This term refers to the average period of time in years between <br />occurrences of a particular hazard (equal to the inverse of the annual frequency of occurrence). <br />Riverine: Of or produced by a river. Riverine floodplains have readily identifiable channels. Floodway <br />maps can only be prepared for riverine floodplains. <br />Risk: Risk is the estimated impact that a hazard would have on people, services, facilities, and structures <br />in a community. Risk measures the likelihood of a hazard occurring and resulting in an adverse condition <br />that causes injury or damage. Risk is often expressed in relative terms such as a high, moderate, or low <br />likelihood of sustaining damage above a particular threshold due to occurrence of a specific type of hazard. <br />Risk also can be expressed in terms of potential monetary losses associated with the intensity of the hazard. <br />Risk Assessment: Risk assessment is the process of measuring potential loss of life, personal injury, <br />economic injury, and property damage resulting from hazards. This process assesses the vulnerability of <br />people, buildings, and infrastructure to hazards and focuses on (1) hazard identification; (2) impacts of <br />hazards on physical, social, and economic assets; (3) vulnerability identification; and (4) estimates of the <br />cost of damage or costs that could be avoided through mitigation. <br />Risk Ranking: This ranking serves two purposes, first to describe the probability that a hazard will occur, <br />and second to describe the impact a hazard will have on people, property, and the economy. Risk estimates <br />for the City are based on the methodology that the City used to prepare the risk assessment for this plan. <br />The following equation shows the risk ranking calculation: