The hazards or threats currently faced in Markham are similar to those faced in most Greater Toronto Area municipalities.

The top hazards include, but are not limited to:

• Epidemic or pandemic of infectious disease in humans or animals causing public health actions to stop the spread that may impact travel and disrupt social and business activities

• Cyber-attacks causing major technical failure of communications systems causing widespread multi-day communications breakdown

• Special events, causing transportation and service disruption

• Hazardous materials incident: transport accidents involving trucks or rail cars

• Severe winter storms, causing travel and business disruption

• Natural gas pipeline emergency, causing evacuations

• Severe summer storms (high wind/rain, tornadoes and hurricanes) with sustained rainfall and potential flash floods, causing widespread property damage

• Terrorism/Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE), causing widespread disruption, casualties, fear and affecting social and economic welfare