Understanding risk in an emergency management context

Abstract

Understanding of risk is important for emergency managers. The variety of definitions, expressions, assessment techniques, efforts to measure, perceptions, levels of acceptability and the role of probability consideration can create challenges when considering and communicating risk. This paper presents a brief overview of some important factors with regard to risk, along with some case studies to inform emergency managers. It also introduces an alternative approach to risk that includes and retains the three dimensions of hazard, exposure and vulnerability.