How Can An Asset-Based Appreciative Inquiry Risk Assessment Model Improve FEMA's Risk MAP Process To Help Communities Become More Resilient?

Abstract

University of Washington Abstract <bold>How An Asset-Based Appreciative Inquiry Risk Assessment Approach Could Improve The Federal Emergency Management Agency's Risk MAP Process</bold> <bold>Maximilian Dixon</bold> Chair of the Supervisory Committee: Assistant Professor Jan Whittington Urban Design and Planning Communities are facing ever increasing risk. There is a growing awareness among risk professionals (analysts, emergency managers, planners etc.) that the tools and processes for assessing risk and helping communities become resilient are inadequate. In order to strengthen the nation's resilience, FEMA should modify its Risk MAP process so that it addresses the ever changing conditions and risks communities face. In this system analysis, an asset-based appreciative inquiry risk assessment model (referred to in this thesis as the "ABAIRA Model") is compared to the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Risk MAP process. The ABAIRA Model expands upon an asset-based approach to Risk MAP (referred to in this thesis as the "Workshop Model") that the author helped develop and test at the request of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Eight main problem areas for improvement are addressed. These include: (1) defining community resilience; (2) a risk assessment process that focuses on what really matters to a community, most importantly their human well-being; (3) effective community engagement; (4) incorporating community goals and plans into the risk assessment process; (5) identifying assets beyond just built capital, by including natural and social capital; (6) assessment of community capability; (7) identification and assessment of mitigation, risk reduction and resilience opportunity; and (8) incorporating risk assessment into other community planning processes. This analysis expands upon the Workshop Model's concepts and approach.