Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT 2.0) - Reference Guide Working Document

Executive Summary

The Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT) was initially developed at the request of the United Nations Environment Programme (UN Environment)/United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) Joint Unit (JEU) based on lessons stemming from the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake and Tsunami (JEU, 2007) with the aim to provide a standardized, scientific assessment methodology to prioritize the impacts of chemical accidents following large scale, sudden onset natural disasters. Version 1 of FEAT was developed by the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment of the Netherlands, with support from the Inspectorate of the (then) Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment of the Netherlands as well as DHV-Engineering Consultancy.

The FEAT helps to identify potential hazards posed by hazardous operations or natural disasters. The and step-by-step approach. As more information on hazardous operations, nearby receptors and pathways becomes available over time, the FEAT approach presents expected impacts on humans and the environment with more detail. It was envisioned that the FEAT is used at the onset of hazardous operations or a large-scale natural disaster, by international humanitarian responders that may be unfamiliar with the affected area. Other non-acute impacts should also be considered after the initial life-saving phase of the disaster.

Since its initial development, FEAT (2009) has proven to be a useful tool for assessing impacts from chemical accidents being used by national and international responders, both for emergency preparedness and emergency response. The evolution of these two different practical uses of the tool, in addition to -to- the JEU to initiate an evaluation and review. The result of the review was the development the FEAT 2.0 Reference Guide in 2015.

FEAT 2.0 is comprised of two parts: FEAT Preparedness (FEAT-P) and FEAT Response (FEAT-R). While the FEAT formula and scientific rigor remained the same, the revised FEAT is easier to use, reflects the latest international guidelines, such as United Nations guidelines, the International Finance (IFC) standards and Emergency Response handbooks, and it is more closely integrated into existing emergency management platforms and guidelines.

After piloting the FEAT 2.0 Reference Guide in 2015, the decision was made to develop the FEAT 2.0 Pocket Guide, which was completed in 2016. Although both the Reference Guide and Pocket Guide use the same methodology, the Pocket Guide was designed as a simplified and compact reference to aid disaster responders already familiar with FEAT in conducting rapid field assessments. Also in 2016, a FEAT data collection tool was developed using the open source KoBoToolbox software. The FEAT KoBo data collection tool, which can be used on both laptop computers and smartphones, facilitates the rapid field collection of information needed to complete a FEAT assessment.

Although the Pocket Guide provides summary field guidance, the FEAT Reference Guide remains as the principal reference concerning FEAT. The Reference Guide is an in depth document containing additional information such as technical details of FEAT, expanded user guidance on applying the Pocket Guide, guidance on FEAT-P, how to use the KoBo data collection tool, and contains a FEAT Question and Answer section.

FEAT 2.0, as presented in this Reference Guide, is structured in such a way that development of an - software tool to further improve the practical ease of use as well as wider coverage of chemical accident scenarios.

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