ABSTRACT
The second part of the risk assessment process is to determine what it is that you are trying to protect: otherwise known as assets. Although the focus of this book is on preventing criminal behavior, workplace violence, and terrorism in the built environment, the exercise of assessing risk and examining threats can have positive impacts upon safety and security and protecting our assets in many ways. Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma, and Superstorm Sandy of 2012 demonstrated that the lack of preparation, understanding, and resources was catastrophic in the communities and critical infrastructure affected by the wind and water damage. Faulty evacuation plans for people in low-lying areas collapsed the infrastructures of several major cities, including gas and oil industries. In South Florida, a Category One hurricane (among the weakest) knocked out 98% of the power grid for 8 weeks in some areas. Above ground utility poles were vulnerable to the winds and resulted in thousands of wood and concrete telephone and power poles being snapped or knocked down. Gas stations could not sell gas because they did not have electricity or backup power generators to run their pumps. Ironically, the worst fear from an act of terrorism was effectively caused by a known and predictable natural event in our country-hurricanes.
