The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has released NFPA 1300, Standard on Community Risk Assessment and Community Risk Reduction Plan Development. This new standard helps a broad range of authorities determine what kind of emergencies are occurring in their community, where, and to whom.
Community Risk Assessment
Community Risk Reduction (CRR) is a process that helps identify and prioritize all types of risks, and emphasizes the integrated and strategic investment of resources to reduce their occurrence and impact. NFPA 1300 provides guidance on conducting a community risk assessment (CRA), creating and implementing a CRR plan, and establishing ongoing evaluation of that plan. It also provides the framework for building a CRR team, fostering strategic partnerships, and applying data to conduct both a CRA and CRR activities.
First responders, residents, business owners, civic groups, faith-based organizations, visitors – everyone in a community has an active role in fostering a safety and prevention culture. Community members or groups can partner with others who share physical, financial, or intellectual resources, working collectively to address common goals such as reducing falls, improving community health among vulnerable populations, investigating risks associated with hoarding, and developing solutions for other chronic or critical safety issues.
CRR’s Data-Informed Approach
“Community risk reduction has gained a lot of traction in recent years, but the concept is still new to many,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of Outreach and Advocacy at NFPA. “CRR’s data-informed approach offers municipal leaders a vehicle for evaluating challenges, assigning accountability, and establishing transparency across agencies at a time when officials are struggling with budget woes, questions about data, and a host of emerging issues. NFPA 1300 serves as a springboard for local leaders to have conversations and take action.”