Page 5 - CCPS Monograph - Natural Hazards

4 GATHER DATA

Once the potential natural hazards relevant to a facility are identified, the next step is to gather data on
the natural hazards. Data may also be available from third party, expert natural hazard consultants or
from the facility’s insurance carrier. Insurance carriers typically will have developed specific natural event
reports. Other data sources may include the following.

 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) flood maps - https://msc.fema.gov/portal/home
 United States Geological Survey (USGS) seismic maps -
https://earthquake.usgs.gov/hazards/designmaps/usdesign.php
 American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) seismic guide - https://hazards.atcouncil.org/#/
 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) tornado prediction -
https://www.spc.noaa.gov/new/SVRclimo/climo.php?parm=allTorn
 ASCE Tornado Wind Prediction - https://hazards.atcouncil.org/#/
 National Hurricane Center (NHC) Storm surge maps - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/nationalsurge/
 ASCE Wind prediction maps - https://hazards.atcouncil.org/#/
 ASCE Snow load - https://hazards.atcouncil.org/#/
 NOAA Hurricane center - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/climo/

This data may be used in evaluating facility design in relation to natural hazards, assessing risks, and
emergency planning. It is important that the data gathered from these sources is specific to each site
location. This includes the probability of occurrence and the severity level (e.g. flood zone, water height,
wind speed, seismic zone). For example, the facility may be subject to flooding of 1.52 meters (5 feet) at
a frequency of 1 in 500 years. In addition to data from the above sources, it may be important to
understand the specific site topography, as knowing the high and low spots may inform both increased
risks and potential mitigation measures. A potential best practice used by one CCPS member company
was to develop drone elevation maps of their site prone to river flooding. With this, they understand
exactly what equipment will be impacted at a given river height, a value that is often forecasted days in
advance.

The data gathered should be maintained along with other important raw data describing the conditions
of the site. This site data should be maintained in a format that is accessible to those on site during a
potential emergency and is also backed up and accessible remotely.

Considering natural hazard data as “process safety information” is a good practice.

5 IDENTIFY EQUIPMENT TO BE ADDRESSED IN NATURAL HAZARDS ASSESSMENT

Facilities include many pieces of equipment and systems which may be critical to supporting operations
some of which may be important to protect from a natural hazard. For example, the emergency power
system may be important for continued operation during a natural disaster, but the maintenance shop
equipment may not be. Any equipment or operation that is required for safe operations or that, if
compromised, could lead to a process safety event, harm to personnel the community, or the
environment should be identified. Further examples of equipment that may be required for safe
operation are: nitrogen generators, firewater pumps, cooling systems, process control and safety
instrumented systems, and wastewater pumps.

Assessment of and planning for natural hazards 2

 AIChE 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction for non-commercial, educational purposes is encouraged.
However, reproduction for any commercial purpose without express written consent of AIChE is strictly prohibited.