The CDC requires recipients of Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grants to conduct a comprehensive risk assessment every five years to identify and prioritize public health threats. New Jersey’s last assessment was completed in 2017, with the 2022 update delayed due to COVID-19. The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) is now conducting a new assessment using a modified version of the Pennsylvania Public Health Risk Assessment Tool (PHRAT), originally developed by Drexel University, which evaluates hazards based on probability, population impact, response capability, and healthcare vulnerability. Subject matter experts and partners across state and local agencies contributed to the process, which focused on ten hazards: severe weather, pandemic, power failure, emerging infectious disease, mass gatherings, foodborne illness, terrorism (CBRNE), active shooter, cybersecurity attack, and hazardous materials. Results identified severe weather and power failure as the top threats, a shift from prior assessments that ranked pandemic and terrorism highest. Given New Jersey’s diverse geography—rural, suburban, urban, and coastal areas—risk rankings varied regionally. The PHRAT defines incident probability within a 100-year lifecycle to capture long-term threats like pandemics. Additionally, about 25% of participants recommended other hazards beyond the top ten as significant risks. Please see the Jurisdictional Risk Assessment below.
Jurisdictional Risk Assessment