Disasters: Hazards & Threats | Alabama Cooperative Extension System

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There are many natural, technological or national security hazards that could occur in Alabama and result in an emergency or disaster. Hazards are those sources of potential danger or adverse conditions, but not all hazards have the same likelihood of occurring in a given time period. The likelihood of an event happening in that time period is calculated based on records of previous events in Alabama.

Assessing the risk of impact from a hazard is based on the likelihood of the event happening and on the effect of the event on physical elements (assets) in the community. Each asset has some vulnerability to hazards. For example, buildings are vulnerable to high winds and floods. The level of risk to a hazard is determined by the amount of vulnerability and the likelihood of that hazard occurring.

Alabama’s top 10 ranking natural hazards are:

Flooding (high risk and high impact)
Tornadoes/Wind Storms (high risk and high impact)
Hurricanes (high risk and high impact)
Winter/Ice Storms (high risk and medium impact)
Lightning (high risk and low impact)
Drought (medium risk and low impact)
Hail (medium risk and low impact)
Extreme temperatures (medium risk and low impact)
Wildfire (low risk and low impact)
Urban Fire (low risk and low impact)

The top 10 ranking technological hazards are:

Energy crisis (medium risk and medium impact)
Transportation (air/sea/rail) (medium risk and medium impact)
Terrorism (low risk and high impact)
Chemical stockpile (low risk and high impact)
Radiological (attack) (low risk and high impact)
Radiological (fixed facility) (low risk and medium impact)
Dam failure/breach (low risk and medium impact)
Hazmat—hazardous materials (fixed facility) (low risk and medium impact)
Cyber-terrorism (low risk and medium impact)
Hazmat (transportation) (low risk and low impact)

Talk with your local EMA office to learn which hazards your community is most vulnerable.

Alabama’s top 10 ranking natural hazards are:

The top 10 ranking technological hazards are:

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