Hazard Information

Understanding Hazards in Howard County

Preparedness begins with understanding your local hazards. A hazard is any potential source of harm or difficulty and may be natural or manmade. High-risk hazards have a high likelihood of local occurrence and may result in serious consequences to life safety, property, critical infrastructure, the environment, and the economy.

Risk = Likelihood + Consequence

Hazard Resources

For detailed information on hazard risk in Howard County, the following resources provide detailed information on hazard risk in Howard County:

Community Hazard Handbook – An overview of local hazards and hazard risk designed for families and businesses in Howard County. This handbook was updated in 2023.

Hazard Identification & Risk Assessment (HIRA) – An in-depth resource for understanding hazards and hazard risk in Howard County. The HIRA was updated in 2023.

Hazards in Howard County

Howard County's risk assessment includes 25 distinct hazard types.

Human-Caused Hazards		Natural Hazards
Active Assailant		Drought
Biological Hazard		Earthquake
Chemical Hazard		Extreme Temperature
Civil Unrest		Flood
Cyber Hazard		Hurricane/Tropical Cyclone
Dam Failure		Lightning
Emerging/Re-Emerging Infectious Diseases		Pest Infestation/Zoonotic Infection
Explosives Hazard		Severe Winter Weather
Nuclear Blast		Solar Storm
Opioids Hazard		Tornado/Windstorm
Radiological Hazard		Wildfire
Structure Fire
Transportation Hazard
Utility Disruption Hazard

HIRA Updates

The Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) is a comprehensive analysis of manmade and natural hazards which could impact Howard County, Maryland. The initial HIRA was developed between the years 2014 and 2015 to serve as a foundational document for emergency preparedness planning efforts within Howard County. Development of the HIRA was led by the Howard County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). The HIRA reflects a whole-community approach to risk assessment involving local government stakeholders, private-sector partners, and private citizens. The updated HIRA was researched and developed between 2022 and early 2023, as such, it does not include references or data pertaining to incidents and events that have occurred since that time.

Prepare Yourself

Understanding your hazard risk is only the first step toward building a resilient community. Learn more about how you can protect your home or business from the consequences of a disaster at the following locations:

ReadyHoCo - Howard County Office of Emergency Management

Ready.gov – Dept. of Homeland Security

Emergency.cdc.gov – Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

https://www.weather.gov/safety/ – National Weather Service

Hazard Information