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a study area of any size – a region, com- munity, neighbourhood or individual site. The methodology plays a key role in the assessment step of mitigation planning, which is a fundamental component of a community's ability to break the cycle of disaster damage. MODELING RISK AND MITIGATION To adapt the tool for Canadian users, NRCan has engaged local groups to uncover operational requirements for risk-based planning in urban centers. For example, they worked with the District of North Vancou- ver to uncover potential flood risks in the area. Using the Hazus flood model, they developed spatial maps containing depths and extents of floodwater for floodprone creeks and rivers to help assess potential disaster loss due to riparian flooding. Through a partnership between District staff and the University of British Columbia's Earthquake Engineering Group, NRCan is also identifying and prioritizing commu- nity assets that would be at risk in the event of an earthquake. They combine this data with assets that would help contribute to resilience and, using this information, for- mulate risk reduction strategies. NRCan and the District are also exploring policy responses that align with a range of identi- fied risk scenarios that the community could face over the next 30 years. This proj- ect is aiding the District as it drafts a new Official Community Plan with an expanded focus on anticipated risks. The District of Squamish has also benefited from NRCan's risk assessment framework. Known as the "Outdoor Recre- ational Capital of Canada," Squamish is nestled between Vancouver and Whistler and is geographically exposed to multiple natural hazard threats. Located at the con- fluence of five major river systems and sur- rounded by a steep mountain landscape, the area is threatened by high consequence earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, a debris-flow landslide hazard, periodic flood- ing, storm surge threats in the downtown waterfront area, and wildfire threats between built and natural environments. In 2007, NRCan began working with Squamish to examine underlying system dynamics that drive conditions of natural hazard vulnerability and risk (specifically floods, earthquakes and landslides) in the community. The principles of Pathways were applied, to study how these condi- tions would change over time, with ongo- ing growth and development. "Users can visualize what a commu- nity might look like five years down the road, and map out scenarios that predict how infrastructure will likely be affected by natural disasters," said Hastings. "As a result, emergency planners can make criti- cal decisions based on facts, and risk assess- ment becomes a key component of com- munity planning, which is something that simply didn't happen before." To promote adoption of Pathways on a national scale, NRCan will continue to work with local government organizations and communicate the results of their research to inform ongoing strategies for national and regional risk assessment. In conjunction with FEMA, NRCan is scheduled to release a North American version of Hazus across Canada and the United States in the first quarter of 2012. Pierre Bilodeau is the Defence & Public Safety Industry Manager for ESRI Canada, which provides enterprise geographic information system (GIS) solutions. Pierre retired from the Canadian Forces in April 2008 after 32 years of service as a Military Engineer Officer, including 18 years with the Defence geospatial community. He can be reached at pbilodeau@esricanada.com. S FrontLine Security I www.frontline-security.org I 15 Find out how esri.ca/QuinteWest e W e t n i u Q /Q a c i. r s e w ho t u o nd Fi t s e

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