Hospitals are required to conduct and annually review their Hazard Vulnerability Analysis (HVA). The HVA provides a systematic approach to recognizing hazards that may affect demand for the hospitals services or its ability to provide those services. The risks associated with each hazard are analyzed to prioritize planning, mitigation, response and recovery activities. The HVA serves as a needs assessment for the Emergency Management program. This process should involve community partners and be communicated to community emergency response agencies.

A hazard vulnerability analysis is a process for identifying natural and man-made hazards and the direct and indirect effect these hazards may have on the hospital and community. An HVA provides the hospital with a basis for determining the potential demands on emergency services and other resources that could occur during a crisis so that effective preventive measures can be taken and a coordinated disaster response plan can be developed.

Hospitals should develop specific plans for managing the top 3 to 5 hazards they have identified, and should build their training and exercises around managing those hazards.

It is important to note that cities and counties are also required to prepare HVAs; the hospital HVA should consider hazards identified in the community plans that may impact the hospital. In some communities the hospital and community HVAs are developed together.