Risk & Vulnerability Assessment on Water Treatment Infrastructure against Natural Hazards in Puerto Rico

Abstract

This research focused on the use of FEMA’s Hazus-Multi Hazard GIS modeling software for the performance of a risk and vulnerability assessment on drinking water treatment plants in Puerto Rico against natural hazards. Earthquake simulation by the software provided damage estimates for the water treatment plants closest to the epicenter. Based on the damage percentages provided by the software, an identification of the most vulnerable potable water treatment facility was accomplished. The limitation for the usage of only earthquake and tsunami hazards for the island of Puerto Rico, and the complex workings of the software, limits its potential usage for risk and vulnerability assessments in the future. With the proper development for the application of multiple hazards and the update to the default databases for Puerto Rico by the FEMA Hazus team, multiple risk and vulnerability assessments may be accomplished for different structures and for different natural hazards.