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2025 Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />Kittitas County, Washington <br /> <br /> <br />Chapter 4: Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment 54 <br />CHAPTER 4. HAZARD IDENTIFICATION AND RISK <br />ASSESSMENT <br />A risk assessment is the process of measuring the potential loss of life, personal injury, economic injury, <br />and property damage resulting from natural hazards. It allows emergency management personnel and <br />first responders to establish early response priorities by identifying potential hazards and vulnerable <br />assets. The process focuses on the following elements. <br /> <br />• Hazard Identification: Use all available information to determine what types of disasters may <br />affect a jurisdiction, how often they can occur, and their potential severity. <br />• Vulnerability Identification: Determine the impact of natural hazard events on the population, <br />environment, economy, and lands of the region. <br />• Cost Evaluation: Estimate the cost of potential damage or cost that can be avoided by mitigation. <br /> <br />This Plan is designated to comply with requirements of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and <br />Emergency Assistance Act, as amended, and Related Authorities and 44 CFR Part 201 (44 CFR § 201.6), <br />which states that local governments must have an approved Hazard Mitigation Plan in place for eligibility <br />of pre-disaster and/or post-disaster mitigation grant funds. Additionally, this Plan is designed to comply <br />with the FEMA and the Washington State Emergency Management Division guidance documents <br />(particularly the Local Mitigation Planning Policy Guide, effective April 19, 2023) and other applicable <br />federal, state, and local regulations. This was accomplished by evaluating the impacts of known natural <br />hazards, prioritizing mitigation alternatives, and coordinating hazard mitigation with other Kittitas County <br />programs and policies. <br />4.1. IDENTIFIED HAZARDS <br />There are a number of hazards that pose a threat to human life, health, and well -being, and this Plan is <br />not meant to compile an exhaustive list. Those addressed in disaster planning are generally categorized <br />as natural, human-caused, or technological. Some hazards are a threat to all geographic areas (e.g., <br />drought) while others (e.g., flooding) are more limited in their extent. <br /> <br />The Kittitas County hazards were identified, and their frequency of occurrence was evaluated through a <br />historical analysis using a number of resources, including: <br /> <br />• 2019 Kittitas County Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />• 2023 Washington State Enhanced Hazard Mitigation Plan <br />• Hazard planning documents developed by state, federal, and private agencies <br />• National Centers for Environmental Information <br />• Northwest Avalanche Center <br />• United States Drought Monitor <br />• National Weather Service <br />• United States Geological Survey