OR/18/014 Communication of hazard assessments
| Freeborough, K, Dashwood, C, Reeves, H, and Arnhardt, C. 2018. A workshop focusing on communication of hazard assessment information; summary of discussions. British geological Survey. (OR/18/014). |
A remit of the NHP is to “ensure natural hazard information is communicated appropriately and effectively, responding to user needs”. The success is reliant on close collaboration between members of the Natural Hazards Partnership (NHP); including the British Geological Survey (BGS), the Met Office (MO), the Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL) and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (CEH).
The Hazard Impact Modelling Group (HIMG) is specifically tasked with developing impact models to enhance the forecasting, preparedness and resilience to the effects of hazards. Impact modelling for Surface Water Flood (SWF) and Wind are already very advanced, with information being used at operational level to verify information and aid understanding of hazard assessment. A stakeholder workshop was organised with the objective of ascertaining views on the format in which information should be disseminated, and to inform future development of the Landslide HIM.
In early 2017, the HIMG comprising the organisations named above, submitted a proposal to Scottish Government to run a workshop specifically with users of the NHP Daily Hazard Assessment (DHA), a product described further in Information already being received is detailed local and therefore more relevant to Category 1 responders. The proposal envisaged Scottish end users of the DHA be targeted to discuss.
- The hazard information provided within the DHA
- How information from Hazard Impact Models (HIMs) could be delivered to best serve the user
- How hazard impact data is collated
In conjunction with gaining stakeholder views on the content and future DHA, further information was sought regarding post event practice of collection, documentation and analysis of impact data from stakeholder organisations. This is required by the HIMG to assist with verification of the impact models.
Funding was successfully secured and a joint Scottish Resilience Community/NHP workshop was held on 29 September 2017. The remainder of this report summarises the workshop, held at the British Geological Survey Scottish Headquarters (Lyell Centre); detailing the outcomes, communication recommendations, and suggestions how to improve, develop and formalise communication pathways with the Scottish responder community