Introduction

This CD-ROM provides a step-by-step guide for conducting community-wide risk and vulnerability assessments. It also provides an illustrative case study demonstrating the process for analyzing physical, social, economic and environmental vulnerability to hazards at the local level. The intended audience includes emergency managers, planners, building officials, and others who are responsible or interested in reducing the impacts of hazards.

In an effort to reach a wide audience with different technical resources and capabilities, this instructional CD-ROM provides several options for accessing, viewing, and interacting with the data included. Please note that familiarity with geographic information systems (GIS) or complicated computer software is not required to use this product. The following options are available for using the information on this CD-ROM:

• Web-Browser for viewing text, images, and static maps
• ArcExplorer® GIS Data Explorer (free software included)
• ArcView® GIS (ArcView 3.0 or higher required to interact with one component of the case study on this CD-ROM)

Software Requirements

Internet Browsing Software

The information on this CD-ROM is offered in HTML format, so Internet browsing software is necessary for viewing the CD-ROM text. Connection to the Internet is not required, although optimum viewing will be achieved with Micosoft® Internet Explorer version 3.0 or higher or Netscape® version 4.5 or higher, which you can download from the Internet.

You can learn about Internet Explorer and download the most up-to-date version of the software by visiting the Microsoft Internet Explorer web site located at http://www.microsoft.com/ie/.

You can learn about Netscape Communicator and download the most up-to date version of the software by visiting the Netscape web site located at http://www.netscape.com/computing/download/.

ArcExplorer® GIS Data Explorer

ArcExplorer is a lightweight GIS data explorer developed by Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. (ESRI). This free software allows you to view, navigate, and print, as well as perform some basic analysis using the data files developed for the case study on this CD-ROM. ArcExplorer can work on its own with these local data sets or as an Internet client to data and Internet map servers. There are seven ArcExplorer project files included on this CD-ROM that include many of the data sets contained in the full case study GIS project. To learn more about ArcExplorer, visit the ESRI Home Page.

The free GIS software is on this CD-ROM and ready to be installed. For instructions on installing the ArcExplorer software, and accessing the ArcExplorer Project Files contained on this CD-ROM, click here. If you've never worked with GIS software, give it a try-it's easier than you think!

ArcView® GIS

For those users with ArcView® GIS software installed on their computers, there is a customized ArcView project file included on this CD-ROM. The file named startup.apr is for users running either ArcView 3.0 or 3.1. It includes all of the data used in the Case Study section of the CD-ROM. The Views are organized by the steps outlined in the methodology.

For information on the ArcView project file contained on this CD-ROM, select ArcView Project section. Information on the data used in the project file is available in the Data sets and Metadata section.

Directory Structure

The CD-ROM has the following directories and files:

Disclaimer

THE DATA AND ASSOCIATED DATA FILES ON THIS CD-ROM ARE PROVIDED "AS IS," WITHOUT WARRANTY TO THEIR PERFORMANCE, MERCHANTABLE STATE, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. THE ENTIRE RISK ASSOCIATED WITH THE RESULTS AND PERFORMANCES OF THE DATA IS ASSUMED BY THE USER. THIS DATA IS NOT FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES.

Technical Assistance

NOAA Coastal Services Center
2234 South Hobson Avenue
Charleston, South Carolina 29405-2413
843.740.1200
843.740.1224 (FAX)
e-mail: clearinghouse@csc.noaa.gov