Earthquake Natech Risk Assessment and Mapping using RAPID-N

Natural disasters can impact industrial installations that process or store hazardous materials, potentially causing major accidents with fires, explosions or toxic releases. Accidents of this type are commonly referred to as Natech accidents. Numerous Natech accidents in the wake of past natural events are testimony to the possibly major disaster potential of this type of accidents. A recent study on the status of Natech risk management in the EU and the OECD found an increase in Natech risk awareness but it also highlighted significant gaps in the development of methodologies for analysing and mapping Natech risk. However, for decisions relating to the siting of new or the retrofitting needs of existing hazardous installations, and for emergency planning, Natech-prone areas need to be identified and the associated risk adequately assessed. In order to fill this gap, a web-based rapid Natech risk assessment and mapping framework called RAPID-N was developed. While the framework is in principle applicable to any kind of natural disaster, it has currently been implemented for earthquake impact on industrial facilities.This work demonstrates the application of RAPID-N for a selected industrial facility subject to earthquake loading and describes the potential consequences of the impact.JRC.G.5-Security technology assessmen