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flooding of this parcel does not have any negative effects on the community. Indeed, <br />in this case, the very frequent flooding (i.e., the high hazard) may be beneficial <br />environmentally by providing wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities, and so on. <br /> <br /> Figure 1,2 <br /> Hazard Alone Does Not Produce Risk <br /> <br /> HAZARD,,, . <br /> <br />The important point here is that hazards do not necessarily produce risk to people and <br />property, unless there is vulnerable inventory exposed to the hazard. Risk to people, <br />buildings or infrastructure results only when hazards are combined with exposure. <br /> <br />EXPOSURE is the quantity, value and vulnerability of the built environment (inventory <br />of people, buildings and infrastructure) in a particular location subject to one or more <br />hazards. Inventory is described by the number, size, type, use, and occupancy of <br />buildings and by the infrastructure present. Infrastructure includes roads and other <br />transportation systems, utilities (potable water, wastewater, natural gas, and electric <br />power), telecommunications systems and so on. <br /> <br />Inventory varies markedly in its importance to a community and thus varies markedly <br />in its importance for hazard mitigation planning. Some types of facilities, "critica~ <br />facilities," are especially important to a community, particularly during disaster <br />situations. Examples of critical facilities include police and fire stations, hospitals, <br />schools, emergency shelters, 911 centers, and other important buildings. Critical <br />facilities may also include infrastructure elements that are important links or nodes in <br />providing service to large numbers of people such as a potable water source, an <br />electric power substation and so on. "Links" are elements such as water pipes, <br />electric power lines, telephone cables that connect portions of a utility or <br />transportation system. "Nodes" are locations with important functions, such as <br />pumping plants, substations, or switching offices. <br /> <br />For hazard mitigation planning, inventory must be characterized not only by the <br />quantity and value of buildings or infrastructure present but also by its vulnerability to <br />each hazard under evaluation. For example, a given facility may or may not be <br />particularly vulnerable to flood damages or earthquake damages, depending on the <br />Public Review Draft August 6, 2004 1-4 <br /> <br /> <br />