Conducting THIRAs
The Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) is a new process that, according to FEMA, allows a jurisdiction to understand its threats and hazards and how the impacts may vary according to various community factors. The idea behind a THIRA is that this knowledge will help a jurisdiction establish informed and defensible capability targets. Unlike the previous Target Capabilities List (TCL) which prescribed national levels of preparedness, the THIRA process uses the new Core Capabilities and a process which lets a local jurisdiction or state "right size" the capabilities to a level which they feel is prudent to prepare for. In other words, how bad of a disaster do you want to prepare for, and how prepared do you need to be? FEMA released its Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 201 (CGP 201) in April 2012; the guide, and related technical assistance, describe how to conduct a THIRA. The THIRA must be submitted by December 31, 2012 using the FEMA