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PHASE II: UNDERSTANDING OUR RISKS The Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment Process Step 4: Identify the Hazards Introduction The Northeast Colorado Multi-County Planning Committee (MCPC) conducted a Hazard Identification study to determine what hazards threaten the planning area. This section of the plan documents the previous occurrence of hazards and the probability of future hazard events. Disaster Declaration History The simplest of methods to identify hazards based upon past occurrence is to look at what events triggered federal and/or state disaster declarations within the planning area. Disaster declarations are granted when the magnitude and severity of the event's impact surpass the ability of the local government to respond and recover. Disaster assistance is supplemental and sequential. When the local government's capacity has been surpassed, a state disaster declaration may be issued, allowing for the provision of state assistance. Should the disaster be so severe that both the local and state government's capacity is surpassed, a federal disaster declaration may be issued, allowing for the provision of federal disaster assistance. Within the planning area, there have been both state and federal disaster declarations. Perhaps the most notable disaster event was the 1990 Limon tornado, a high profile event that caused staggering damage ($25M), yet did not qualify for federal disaster assistance. Another event with staggering damages ($20M) was the 1997 flooding along Pawnee Creek, a tributary to the South Platte River, most notably in Sterling and Atwood in Logan County. Here, however, federal assistance was provided. And probably most revealing, are the agricultural losses of more than $1 OM per year (as measured by crop insurance claims paid for heat, cold, excessive moisture, insects, drought, hail and other events). Only in severe instances did these events warrant disaster declarations. (It is important to note that the federal government may issue a disaster declaration through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration, as well as through FEMA The quantity and types of damage are the determining factors.) The following map, from the FEMA web site, displays the number of Presidential (FEMA) Disaster Declarations within the planning area. ..~..'~.. . '," 1I~,pMTDlol:> 1,113' lIo..aoi.....fl.."....._ .. .__'-tI,IfilS,.,a__ ..___......... r--. J.."""".............._fUItJ,""" ~1.,_.....,i1...........,... ~o~ 9