Date of Conferral

6-26-2024

Date of Award

6-26-2024

Degree

Doctor of Public Administration (D.P.A)

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Jullian Muhammad

Abstract

Natural hazards triggering technological disasters (natech) events exist around the world and affect people, infrastructure, the economy, and environment but are not often considered for local hazard mitigation and emergency preparedness plans. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to identify (a) the natech event vulnerability of the target city, which is in the western United States, and potential sources for these events and (b) the extent to which the city’s hazard mitigation and emergency operations plans addressed natech events. The vulnerability assessment was performed through the lens of network risk theory and involved secondary data analysis of publicly available reports from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) website. The vulnerability assessment incorporated cross-referencing and mapping of EPA data, application of a natech event vulnerability tool to data of chemical releases from industrial sites withing the city, previous experience with threat and hazard identification experience, and deductive analysis of the city’s current plans. The city was found vulnerable to natech events due to the presence of petroleum refineries, bulk stations, and terminals near locations identified as critical functions for the city’s emergency response capabilities. Recommendations include positive social change through conducting a risk assessment of natech events for the next hazard mitigation plan. Identification and mitigation of potential natech event impacts may extend benefits beyond the local government to include the private sector, critical transportation infrastructure, the economy, and well-being of emergency services responding in mutual aid.

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