Risk Assessment

Terrorism risk assessment can be viewed as having three components according to a RAND study Estimating Terrorism Risk. The “threat to a target the target’s vulnerability to the threat, and the consequences should the target be successfully attacked. (Willis, H, Morral, A. Estimating Terrorism Risk 2005 Monograph.)

A community response to terrorism requires an assessment of the targets, vulnerabilities and inherent risks in their region. Previous targets have included: historically significant buildings or monuments, financially important structures and softer targets such as schools or hospitals to maximize psychological and emotional impact.

Preplanning and preparedness includes risk assessment. Transport areas, railways, access routes and areas of mass transit or mass gatherings should be considered potential targets with proactive and preventative planning and protective measures.

Telecommunications facilities are important for ongoing communications and therefore potential targets. Businesses, manufacturing, testing centers and areas of financial resources or critical industry can be targeted. Vulnerable resources such as water, food and public utilities may require increased vigilance and planned means of protection. Additionally, structures of national pride or historical significance can be potentially used as targets to psychologically impair communities and their citizens.