Natural hazards, such as thunderstorms, winter storms, floods, and tornadoes, are a part of the world around us. Their occurrence is natural and inevitable, and there is little we can do to control their force and intensity. We must consider these hazards to be legitimate and significant threats to human life, safety, and property.

The Cabarrus Stanly Union Region is located in the western Piedmont of North Carolina and includes the counties of Cabarrus, Stanly, and Union. This area is vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards. It is also vulnerable to human-caused hazards, including chemical releases and hazardous material spills. These hazards threaten the life and safety of residents in the Cabarrus Stanly Union Region and have the potential to damage or destroy both public and private property, disrupt the local economy, and impact the overall quality of life of individuals who live, work, and vacation in the Cabarrus Stanly Union Region.

While the threat from hazardous events may never be fully eliminated, there is much we can do to lessen their potential impact upon our community and our citizens. By minimizing the impact of hazards upon our built environment, we can prevent such events from resulting in disasters. The concept and practice of reducing risks to people and property from known hazards is generally referred to as hazard mitigation.